{"id":2343,"date":"2021-03-23T00:02:52","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T00:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/"},"modified":"2021-03-23T00:02:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T00:02:52","slug":"music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/","title":{"rendered":"Music Copyright Guide For Indie Musicians"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Music_Copyright_101_How_to_copyright_your_music_and_compositions_as_an_artist_songwriter_or_producer\" >Music Copyright 101: How to copyright your music and compositions as an artist, songwriter, or producer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#What_is_music_copyright\" >What is music copyright?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Music_copyright_designates_the_ownership_of_a_particular_song_or_recording\" >Music copyright designates the ownership of a particular song or recording<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#There_are_two_types_of_music_copyright\" >There are two types of music copyright<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#There_are_two_types_of_music_copyright-2\" >There are two types of music copyright:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#When_do_you_own_your_copyright\" >When do you own your copyright?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Does_the_%E2%80%9Cpoor_mans_music_copyright%E2%80%9D_actually_count_as_proof\" >Does the \u201cpoor man\u2019s music copyright\u201d actually count as proof?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Why_would_I_want_to_register_my_copyright\" >Why would I want to register my copyright?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#How_to_register_a_copyright_for_your_songs\" >How to register a copyright for your songs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Here_are_the_things_youll_need_to_register_your_copyright_using_Cosynd\" >Here are the things you\u2019ll need to register your copyright using Cosynd:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#If_youre_registering_your_music_copyright_directly_with_the_US_Copyright_Office_by_yourself_youll_want_to_file\" >If you\u2019re registering your music copyright directly with the U.S. Copyright Office by yourself, you\u2019ll want to file:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#How_old_do_I_have_to_be_to_copyright_my_music\" >How old do I have to be to copyright my music?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#What_options_do_I_have_if_I_want_to_file_a_lawsuit\" >What options do I have if I want to file a lawsuit?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#How_do_I_make_money_from_a_sound_recording\" >How do I make money from a sound recording?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#How_do_I_make_money_from_my_composition_copyright\" >How do I make money from my composition copyright?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Performance_Royalties\" >Performance Royalties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Mechanical_Royalties\" >Mechanical Royalties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Why_cant_you_collect_mechanical_royalties_on_your_own\" >Why can\u2019t you collect mechanical royalties on your own?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Streaming_generates_significant_mechanical_royalties_and_youre_about_to_earn_even_more\" >Streaming generates significant mechanical royalties, and you\u2019re about to earn even more.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#What_royalties_am_I_owed_as_an_artist\" >What royalties am I owed as an artist?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#What_if_someone_wants_to_record_my_song\" >What if someone wants to record my song?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#What_if_someone_wants_to_use_my_actual_recording\" >What if someone wants to use my actual recording?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Sync_licensing\" >Sync licensing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Sync_rights_kinda_sorta_apply_to_YouTube_too\" >Sync rights kinda sorta apply to YouTube too!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/23\/music-copyright-guide-for-indie-musicians\/#Closing_thoughts\" >Closing thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Music_Copyright_101_How_to_copyright_your_music_and_compositions_as_an_artist_songwriter_or_producer\"><\/span>Music Copyright 101: How to copyright your music and compositions as an artist, songwriter, or producer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>As an independent musician, you own your songs and recordings. It\u2019s YOUR intellectual property. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>That might seem obvious, but it\u2019s worth repeating: <strong>YOU control the copyright to the songs you write and the recordings you create.<\/strong> Ownership of your music copyright gives you leverage, protection, and power when it comes to making money from your music catalog. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In this article we\u2019ll provide an overview of what music copyright is, how to copyright your music, and how you can use your copyright as a songwriter or artist to earn money.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_music_copyright\"><\/span><span>What is music copyright?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span><strong>Copyright signifies the ownership of intellectual property by a person or group.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Music copyright also grants certain exclusive rights to the owner(s), one of the most important being the right to earn money from that intellectual property. This is called \u201cexploiting\u201d your copyright. We\u2019ll get into that more later.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Music_copyright_designates_the_ownership_of_a_particular_song_or_recording\"><\/span><span>Music copyright designates the ownership of a particular song or recording<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>If you create a recording yourself, or if you pay for studio time and session fees, you own that sound recording. If you work with a label, there\u2019s a good chance the label controls the copyright to the recording \u2014 at least for some set duration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If you wrote a song by yourself, you alone own that composition. If you wrote a song with one or more people, you each own a portion of that song. You and your collaborators would then want to draft <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/publishing-split-sheet-co-songwriters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>a document determining the splits<\/span><\/a><span> (the percentage of the song each person owns), and register your copyright accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"There_are_two_types_of_music_copyright\"><\/span><span>There are two types of music copyright<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"There_are_two_types_of_music_copyright-2\"><\/span>There are two types of music copyright:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><span><strong>The composition <\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0which is the music and lyrics<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong>The sound recording <\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 which is a particular recorded version of that music and lyrics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Compositions are usually owned by songwriters and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/what-is-music-publishing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">publishers<\/a>. Sound recordings are usually owned by artists or labels.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28200\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/The-2-main-types-of-music-copyright-1.jpg?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" alt=\"The two main types of copyright for music\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1426\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_do_you_own_your_copyright\"><\/span><span>When do you own your copyright?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>In the strictest technical terms, you own your musical copyright the moment you capture the composition or recording in a fixed medium. This could be something as simple as writing the melody or lyrics on a piece of paper or humming into a recorder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>However, registering your copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office entitles you to enhanced benefits. <\/span><b>Most important of all, in a groundbreaking ruling, the Supreme Court has mandated that registration with the USCO is required before you can file a lawsuit <\/b><span>and registering early can earn you $150,000 plus attorney fees per deliberate infringement \u2013 but only if you register early on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_%E2%80%9Cpoor_mans_music_copyright%E2%80%9D_actually_count_as_proof\"><\/span>Does the \u201cpoor man\u2019s music copyright\u201d actually count as proof?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>The \u201cpoor man\u2019s copyright\u201d is\u00a0a useless and ill-advised method for proving copyright. This is where a musician emails or sends a copy of the composition or recording to themselves via certified mail, leaving the package sealed with the date clearly marked on the outside.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The idea was that you would let the government do the work of dating the creation of the work with the federal postmark and that could provide you with enough leverage to file a lawsuit if your music was ever stolen or misused. However, this practice is now obsolete. <b>In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that you must register with the U.S. Copyright Office before you can file a lawsuit.<\/b> The poor man\u2019s copyright does not grant you this right and and does not afford you nearly the same protections as an <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-copyright-your-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"&quot;noopener noopener noreferrer\">official copyright registration.<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_would_I_want_to_register_my_copyright\"><\/span><span>Why would I want to register my copyright?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>When your content is stolen or misused, your first thought may be to take legal action. The first question you may be asked is, <\/span><i><span>\u201cDid you register with the Copyright Office?\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/i><span>That\u2019s because when you register, you have the ultimate leverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>According to updated regulations, <\/span><span>you <\/span><b>must<\/b><span> register with the U.S. Copyright Office before you can file a lawsuit.<\/span><span> Other types of registrations or mailing your music to yourself are <\/span><span>not<\/span><span> substitutes for USCO registration. <\/span><b>Early registration can grant you a large payout \u2013 up to $150,000 per infringement PLUS your legal fees, but <\/b><b>only if you register before your music is stolen or misused.<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Registering Now<\/b><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><b>Registering After Your Music Is Stolen\/Misused<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span>You can file lawsuits immediately in federal court or small claims court (no attorney required).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Receive up to $150,000 PLUS attorney fees per willful infringement. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span>Can\u2019t file a lawsuit until you have received your official registration from the USCO.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>(normally 3-9 months)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Receive up to $200-$30,000\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>per work (barely enough to cover legal fees).\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span>Registering with the U.S. Copyright Office is one of the most important actions you can take and it\u2019s something that you should want to do shortly after or before your music is released.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A registered work is your only ticket into court and it will carry a lot more weight than a sealed package, a Soundcloud<\/span><span> link, or beer-soaked napkin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the USA, you\u2019d want to register your copyright with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyright.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>the US Copyright Office<\/span><\/a><span>, part of the Library of Congress.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_register_a_copyright_for_your_songs\"><\/span><span>How to register a copyright for your songs<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>If you want to legally register a copyright for your music in the USA, you\u2019ll need to do that <\/span><span>directly with the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/copyright.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Copyright Office<\/span><\/a><span>, or you can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosynd.com\/cdbaby\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>Cosynd, <\/span><\/a>a service that handles all the heavy lifting for you.<\/p>\n<p><span>The advantage of using Cosynd is it\u2019s much more user-friendly than the numerous steps involved when you register directly with the Copyright Office. CD Baby partnered with Cosynd over other companies who offer similar services because their interface is easy to navigate, their process is quick, and they\u2019re efficient and professional every step of the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Compared to other services, Cosynd lets you register multiple songs on one application \u2013 some services only let you register one at a time. Most important of all, Cosynd is 80% less expensive compared to similar services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Here_are_the_things_youll_need_to_register_your_copyright_using_Cosynd\"><\/span><span>Here are the things you\u2019ll need to register your copyright using Cosynd:<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span>The full legal names and country of citizenship\/domicile of your co-authors<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>The full legal name and addresses of the owners of your copyright<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>The year of completion, date of of release (if released), and the nation of in which your copyrights were released.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Audio files if you are registering your sound recordings. Audio files or lyric\/chord sheets if you are registering just your compositions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>Cosynd asks you a series of questions to determine the best way for them to file your registrations on your behalf. You won\u2019t need to learn about the various application types ahead of time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For more on how to register your copyright, head <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/the-easiest-way-to-register-the-copyright-for-your-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>here<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_youre_registering_your_music_copyright_directly_with_the_US_Copyright_Office_by_yourself_youll_want_to_file\"><\/span>If you\u2019re registering your music copyright <b>directly with the U.S. Copyright Office by yourself<\/b>, you\u2019ll want to file:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyright.gov\/forms\/formpa.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Form PA<\/a><\/strong> for a composition<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyright.gov\/forms\/formsr.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Form SR <\/a><\/strong>for a sound recording<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>Be sure to read all of the Copyright Office\u2019s circulars on the applications types first \u2013 if your music is released, unreleased, or varied in authors there are different applications types that should be used (again, when you use Cosynd, they automatically determine the right type of application to use when filing your registration, so you don\u2019t have to think about this).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What about if you want to register both the sound recording and the composition? See below.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28201\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/The-2-main-types-of-music-copyright-2.jpg?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" alt=\"Which copyright form should you file for your music\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1426\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyright.gov\/register\/sr-choose.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">copyright.gov<\/a>, you can use ONE form (SR) to register both the sound recording AND composition, <span>as long as the <\/span><span>author and <\/span><span>owner are exactly <\/span><span>the same for all songs listed on the application and the release information is the same.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span>Form SR must also be used if you wish to make one registration for both the sound recording and the underlying work (the musical composition, dramatic, or literary work). You may make a single registration only if the copyright author and claimant is the same for both the sound recording and the underlying work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_old_do_I_have_to_be_to_copyright_my_music\"><\/span>How old do I have to be to copyright my music?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is no age requirement to copyright your music.\u00a0<em>However<\/em>, while copyrights are governed by federal law, most copyright transactions are governed by state law. State law can differ from federal law in what minors can and cannot do with their copyright. This includes certain changes that can occur in some states when the individual who owns the copyright turns 18. Our legal counsel Joel Andrews explains these rules in <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/how-old-do-you-have-to-be-to-copyright-your-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">his copyright article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_options_do_I_have_if_I_want_to_file_a_lawsuit\"><\/span><b>What options do I have if I want to file a lawsuit?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>There are two places where you can file a lawsuit for infringement \u2013 in federal court and soon, in small claims court. To take advantage of either option, you must register with the Copyright Office first, generally before the infringement happens if you want to get the highest possible reward.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><strong>Federal Court<\/strong> \u2013 You can file your lawsuit in federal court. If you do so, participation is mandatory for you and your infringer. Creators that can win their case in federal court could earn $750-$150,000 per infringement. Litigating a case in federal court from start to finish requires an attorney costs an average of six figures. A more affordable option via small claims court exists (see below).<\/span><span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong>Small Claims Court<\/strong> \u2013 The Copyright Alternative in Small\u2013Claims Enforcement Act of 2019 (the CASE Act) established a voluntary small claims court within the U.S. Copyright Office. It will be accessible to creators at the end of 2021. Small claims court is an easy, accessible, and affordable option for all copyright owners to file claims of infringement and other grievances and reduce legal expenses. A Copyright Claims Board (CCB) comprised of three judges will try cases virtually (copyright owners will not have to appear physically in person in a federal court). Creators can represent themselves and do not need to hire an attorney. <\/span><span>Copyright owners could recover up to $30,000 per case, with a cap of $15,000 in statutory damages per work infringed. <\/span><span>Guest blogger Jessica Sobhraj wrote <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/case-act-for-musicians-copyright\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>this informative article<\/span><\/a><span> about the implications of the CASE Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_make_money_from_a_sound_recording\"><\/span><span>How do I make money from a sound recording?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you own the rights to a sound recording, you control the \u201cmaster rights\u201d and can grant a master license. Royalties that flow from the granting of a master license include streaming and download revenues associated with the recording, from platforms like Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, Deezer, etc.<\/p>\n<p>You also can grant permissions for sync licensing and sampling of your recording. (More on those topics below).<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the United States, you\u2019re owed royalties when your track is played on the radio; inside the US you\u2019re owed royalties when your track is played on digital or satellite radio. (More on that below too).<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, as the owner of a recording you can <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/make-discs.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">press and sell physical formats such as vinyl and CDs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_make_money_from_my_composition_copyright\"><\/span><span>How do I make money from my composition copyright?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Once you\u2019ve registered your music copyright, it\u2019s time to <\/span><i><span>exploit<\/span><\/i><span> that copyright. Exploitation may have negative connotations in other parts of society, but in the music business it\u2019s how you earn money from the hard work you put in to writing your song.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performance_Royalties\"><\/span><span>Performance Royalties<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>As a songwriter, you have the right to collect publishing royalties for the usage of your song. One such revenue stream is <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/music-publishing-royalties-explained-what-is-a-performance-royalty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">performance royalties<\/a>, owed to the songwriter and publisher whenever a song is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>spun on the radio<\/li>\n<li>performed in public<\/li>\n<li>played in a restaurant, bar, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>As a songwriter, you\u2019ll want to register with an agency that collects performance royalties. These agencies are called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/what-is-a-performing-rights-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>performing rights organizations<\/span><\/a><span> (PROs).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>We have three major PROs (and a few smaller ones) in the U.S.:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>BMI<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>ASCAP<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>SESAC<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>You can affiliate yourself as a songwriter with the first two directly, or by using our publishing administration service CD Baby Pro Publishing. With CD Baby Pro Publishing, we\u2019ll affiliate you with BMI or ASCAP (your choice), and register your songs with them. SESAC is invite only and represents far fewer songwriters. If you\u2019re outside the USA, see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.cdbaby.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/204499795-Where-is-CD-Baby-Pro-Publishing-Administration-available-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>this list of international PROs and collection societies.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>The job of these PROs is to monitor radio stations and venues for public use of your song. <strong>Any time your song is played in public it generates a performance royalty for the underlying composition, and as the songwriter for that composition, you\u2019re entitled to the performance royalty. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>You can also earn performance royalties by playing your songs live. The venues should be paying fees to the PROs to cover these royalties, and each PRO gives you a way to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/missing-live-performance-royalties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>register your live sets. <\/span><\/a><span>When you\u2019re on tour make sure to log all of the venues you played and keep track of your set-lists so you can register those shows when you\u2019re home! A curious quirk about performance royalties is that they\u2019re only generated for songwriters and their publishers; the PROs do not pay any revenue to recording artists.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mechanical_Royalties\"><\/span><span>Mechanical Royalties<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>When your composition is reproduced in any medium you are owed a separate type of royalty called a <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/what-is-a-mechanical-royalty-explanation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mechanical royalty<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>These are <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/why-signing-up-with-ascap-or-bmi-is-not-enough\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">royalties that PROs like ASCAP and BMI do NOT collect<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span>You might have heard of mechanical royalties as they relate to the manufacturing of physical formats such as CD, vinyl, and cassettes. But digital formats also generate mechanicals. <strong>When someone streams your music on a service like Spotify or Apple Music, or when they buy a download from a store like iTunes, your composition is technically being recreated.<\/strong> Yes, even though \u2014 in the case of streaming \u2014 it\u2019s a temporary reproduction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>These mechanical royalties are reported by the streaming and download platforms to the royalty collection society in the country or territory where the stream or download happened. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the U.S. we have the Harry Fox Agency; but almost every country has a similar agency to collect mechanical royalties. The U.S. is unique in that mechanicals from downloads are bundled in with the revenue from the sound recording. So those will be paid to you through your <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">music distributor<\/a>. This does not apply to interactive streams though; in every country, mechanical royalties generated by interactive streaming are paid to collection societies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_cant_you_collect_mechanical_royalties_on_your_own\"><\/span>Why can\u2019t you collect mechanical royalties on your own?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Technically you could, but it\u2019s very difficult and time-consuming.<\/p>\n<p><span>Mechanical royalties are only payable to publishers, so you\u2019re not able to collect them as a songwriter. To make things more complicated, it\u2019s very difficult for most independent songwriters to register with Harry Fox as a publisher because you\u2019d need to have a sizable catalog of songs. Luckily, CD Baby is here to act as your publishing administrator and make all this super simple. <strong>If you sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/publishing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Publishing<\/a> we\u2019ll register your songs with collection societies worldwide and help you collect ALL your publishing royalties.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Streaming_generates_significant_mechanical_royalties_and_youre_about_to_earn_even_more\"><\/span>Streaming generates significant mechanical royalties, and you\u2019re about to earn even more.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>CD Baby played a part in recent successful efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-news\/music-modernization-act-aims-boost-songwriter-revenues-interactive-streaming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">increase the mechanical royalty rate<\/a> owed for interactive streaming. Streaming services are now required to increase their payouts to songwriters and publishers each year through 2022, when the rate will reach 15.1% of total revenue earned.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a 44% hike in the royalty rate.<\/p>\n<p>This is<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/44-increase-mechanical-royalty-rates-usa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> a big win for songwriters<\/a>, so it\u2019s more important than ever to <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/publishing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">professionalize your rights<\/a> as a composer or lyricist.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_royalties_am_I_owed_as_an_artist\"><\/span><span>What royalties am I owed as an artist?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>If you\u2019re the recording artist on a song, there ARE royalties you can earn, but they\u2019re collected and paid differently from publishing royalties. Like we covered above, artists in the USA are not entitled to royalties from terrestrial radio airplay, but satellite radio and Internet radio is entirely different. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If your song is played on Pandora or on a satellite radio station, this generates a different type of royalty for the usage and creation of the sound recording \u2014 think of it as a digital performance royalty. <strong>This type of royalty is only owed to recording artists and sound-recording rights holders (ie. the record label).<\/strong> And unlike the multitude of PROs in the U.S., there\u2019s only one game in town for artists to register and collect those royalties: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundexchange.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Soundexchange<\/span><\/a><span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Register your songs with them and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/collect-royalties-pandora-plays\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>let the Pandora cash start to flow<\/span><\/a><span>!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_if_someone_wants_to_record_my_song\"><\/span><span>What if someone wants to record my song?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Thus far we\u2019ve covered the use of your song in traditional, satellite and Internet radio airplay, but there\u2019s yet another way to exploit your copyright. Let\u2019s say your composition and sound recording is registered and your song is out there in the world, and someone hears it and falls in love. They happen to be a musician themselves and they want to record their own version of your song. Great! And they want to <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/license-cover-song.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">release a cover of your song legally<\/a>. Even better!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The good news is this person has an easy avenue through which to obtain the rights to record their interpretation of your composition. <strong>Any original song that is commercially released is eligible to be licensed for the rate of 9.1 cents per copy. This is called a compulsory license,<\/strong> meaning that as long as this mystery person pays you that mechanical licensing fee (normally through the Harry Fox Agency), they have the legal right to record their interpretation, which is called a \u201ccover song\u201d in the business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>That may or may not be more good news, but whether you approve or disapprove of a death metal cover of your acoustic love ballad, as long as they pay the compulsory fee the artist is protected. <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/5-things-every-musician-know-copyright\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The same laws that protect you from copyright infringement<\/a> also protect artists\u2019 creative vision, no matter how amazing or absurd. It\u2019s the circle of life via capitalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_if_someone_wants_to_use_my_actual_recording\"><\/span><span>What if someone wants to use my actual recording?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Now, there are two more types of exploitation we haven\u2019t talked about, and they both relate to someone who wants to use your music in their own song. If someone wants to use your sound recording in their own track, that\u2019s called a sample. Unlike licensing for a cover song, this is something you have control over as the recording artist, songwriter, or label \u2014 because <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/clear-samples-to-copyrighted-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>ALL samples, no matter how short or long, must be legally licensed<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><strong>The person seeking to use some portion of your recording in their own recording must contact you (or the rights holder to your audio if you signed an agreement with a label) to ask permission. The rights holder (YOU) can either approve or deny the use of your music in a sample.<\/strong> If you\u2019re an independent artist you\u2019ll have control over your sound recording copyright, and if you approve of this use you can negotiate the fee the other party would need to pay to secure the right to use your recording. If you hold the rights to both the composition and the sound recording you can grant permission for the use of both.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sync_licensing\"><\/span><span>Sync licensing<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The second type of exploitation of your recording or composition happens when someone uses it in other media such as a movie or TV show. This is called sync licensing, since <a href=\"http:\/\/cdbaby.com\/license-your-music.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">your music is synchronized with the visual medium<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span>Much like the case with sampling, the music supervisor with the production company who is seeking to use your song must contact the rights holder or <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/license-your-music.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">license the song from a music library<\/a> if you chose to add your song to one. If they contact you for this you can negotiate a fee with them. As in the case with clearing a sample, if you hold the rights to both the composition and the recording you can grant permission for both in one agreement, which is appealing to music supervisors who need to move fast to secure songs on a tight production schedule. If your music is included in a music library, that agency can negotiate the terms of the license on your behalf.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The upfront placement fee is one type of revenue generated from a sync deal. After that placement is secured and the show or movie is aired, you are owed performance royalties each time your song is played in that medium, provided the music supervisor files the cue sheets.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sync_rights_kinda_sorta_apply_to_YouTube_too\"><\/span>Sync rights kinda sorta apply to YouTube too!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Sync licensing also applies to YouTube videos of cover songs<\/span><span>. So if a YouTuber records a cover of your song and wants to post the video, the mechanical license they acquired to distribute a recording of that song does not cover them for the video. They\u2019ll need to secure a sync license from you. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But let\u2019s be clear: <strong>MOST people on YouTube are not getting sync licenses for the music they use. That\u2019s why YouTube developed Content ID.<\/strong> <\/span><span>When some YouTube sensation doesn\u2019t want to clear the sync rights with you directly, they can upload their video and allow YouTube to place a claim on their video via Content ID.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>And this doesn\u2019t just work for cover songs, but your recordings too. If someone put your track behind their wedding highlights video, you\u2019ll earn ad revenue.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>If you opted in for <a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/social-video-monetization.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Social Video Monetization<\/a> with CD Baby we\u2019ll send your song to YouTube and add it into their Content ID database. That will automatically catch any use of your song in a video and monetize it accordingly. YouTube ads can add up to real revenue, so even if this person does not clear the sync license, you\u2019ll be earning money from their video.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closing_thoughts\"><\/span><span>Closing thoughts<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Now that you know the WHAT, HOW, and WHY of music copyright, it\u2019s time to make some money from your hard work! Luckily, CD Baby has a number of services that can help you navigate the wide world of copyright we\u2019ve discussed above:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosynd.com\/cdbaby\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cosynd<\/a> \u2014<\/strong> The easiest way to register your copyright.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/publishing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CD Baby Pro<\/a> \u2014<\/strong> Worldwide publishing administration and royalty collection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/license-your-music.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sync licensing<\/a> \u2014<\/strong> We\u2019ll add your songs to our music library for possible placement on networks like HBO, FX, NBC, SHOWTIME, and many more.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"co-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RELEASE MUSIC WORLDWIDE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-rights\/copyright-for-musicians\/\" target=\"_blank\">Music Copyright Guide For Indie Musicians<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Music Copyright 101: How to copyright your music and compositions as an artist, songwriter, or producer As an independent musician, you own your songs and recordings. It\u2019s YOUR intellectual property. That might seem obvious, but it\u2019s worth repeating: YOU control the copyright to the songs you write and the recordings you create. Ownership of your music copyright gives you leverage, protection, and power when it comes to making money from your music catalog. In this article we\u2019ll provide an overview of what music copyright is, how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-seo-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}