Musical performers create music and lyrics with aspirations of sharing the content with the world and generating incredible profits. The process of creating music is long and requires careful attention to detail. The production of songs and music is not an easy task, and the performers often share details of their lives in the songs. The best way to protect the content is to register the music and lyrics through the US Copyright Office.
Is the Music Protected by Copyright?
When composing music or lyrics, musical artists put their hearts and souls in their products. Before the performer can show anyone or even play the songs, the individuals must apply for a copyright in their name to protect their rights to their products. The copyright prevents others from using the music or lyrics for any reason without the owner’s permission.
The performer must complete a full application and submit a copy of the song to the US Copyright Office. Without the copyright, if anyone gets the content, others can use the music or lyrics however the individuals choose. Songwriters, singers, composers, and musical acts who believe their rights have been violated get started by contacting a Beverly Hills Music Lawyer now.
Maintaining Your Rights
Any instances in which the protected content was used without permission is a violation of the copyright owner’s rights. These violations are reported, and the owner can seek damages from the unauthorized party. If the offender collected any proceeds when using the content illegally, the owner can file a lawsuit against the individual, and criminal charges can be applied through the criminal court.
Licensing for Commercial Use
The copyright owner must give another party explicit permission for anyone who wants to use the music or lyrics for commercial purposes. This includes film releases, commercials on television, and any commercial media outside the scope of the original use.
However, if another musical artist wants to record the song, the owner must provide permission and set up terms in a contract to provide proceeds to the owner if the new artists collect any money from the recording. A certain percentage must be paid to the owner to use the content.
The Right to Own Your Masters
If a musical artist records with a recording agency or studio, the contracts give the studio rights to the masters for all music recording during the terms of the contract. With rights to the masters, the studio can re-release any of the songs to create new albums without the artist’s permission. However, musical artists can negotiate for rights to the masters at the end of the recording contract, and with access to the masters, the performer can make decisions about how the recordings are used.
Controlling Where the Music Is Streamed
Music streaming services must have a license from the copyright owner to sell or stream any records owned by musical artists or recording studios. The services cannot sell any copies of an album or any songs without an appropriate license, or the owner can seek damages through a lawsuit.
Musicians and producers must protect all content the individuals create. The most effective protection for music or lyrics is to register the content with the US Copyright Office. Once the content is protected by a copyright, the owner has sole rights to their products. By learning more about related laws, musical talent can protect themselves and their music.
