You put in hours, if not days, on your songs, and you want the work to stay yours. You care about who uses your music, where it ends up, and how it pays you back. At some point you start asking how to get music rights because you know you need more than a loose sense of ownership.
Music rights shape your whole path. They stay with you long after the session lights are cut and the mix is printed. When you understand them, you protect your songs and your recordings. This guide gives you a clear route so you keep control and keep your work in your hands.
What Are Music Rights or Music Copyright?
Music rights protect your work. They give you control over how your songs move through the world and how you get paid for them. When someone uses your music without your permission, you have the law on your side because the moment you write a song and fix it in a recording, copyright forms around it.
Your copyright gives you exclusive control. You control who reproduces your work, who distributes it, and who performs it publicly. You control licensing, streaming, and placements. When anyone wants to use your music in a project, they need your permission. This control becomes the foundation of how you earn money from your songs.
Not everything qualifies for copyright. A song idea in your head doesn’t count. A loose concept in a notebook doesn’t count. You need the song recorded or written in a fixed format for the rights to apply. Copyright protects original work, not generic titles or phrases that appear in daily language.
Types of Music Copyright
There are two types of music copyright. One protects the composition, which covers the melody and lyrics. The other protects the sound recording, which covers the exact performance you captured in the studio or at home. You hold both rights when you write the song and record the version you release.
Composition Copyright
The composition copyright protects the melody and the lyrics. It covers the core writing that sits underneath every version of the song. When someone performs your song, covers it, or releases their own recording of it, this is the right that pays you.
Sound Recording Copyright
The sound recording copyright protects the exact recorded performance. It covers the vocals, the instruments, and the final version you release. When your recording streams or lands in a project, this is the right that earns money.
How to Register Music for a Copyright
Copyright protects your work the moment you record it or write it down, but registration gives you proof. Here is a simple path you can follow when you want to register your music.
Step #1: Finish and fix your song.
First, finish the song. That means the melody and lyrics sit in a steady place, and you have them written or recorded. Copyright needs the work fixed in a format, not floating around as an idea in your head.
Step #2: Decide what you want to register.
Decide if you want to register the composition, the recording, or both. If you wrote the song and recorded it yourself, you hold each side. If you worked with co-writers or a producer, talk through who owns what before you file anything.
Step #3: Gather your details.
Collect what you need before you sit down to register. That includes your legal name, any artist name, song titles, co-writer names, and split percentages if there are shared rights. Having this ready keeps the process from stretching longer than it needs to.
Step #4: Go to your country’s copyright office website.
Most artists file online through their national copyright office. In the United States, that means the U S Copyright Office site. In other countries, the government site for copyright or intellectual property handles it. Use the official site, not a random service that marks up the fee.
Step #5: Choose the right form and fill it out.
Select the form that fits what you are registering. Some forms cover songs as compositions. Others cover sound recordings. Read the short description attached to each option, then pick the one that fits your situation. Fill in the fields with the details you gathered.
Step #6: Upload your music and lyrics.
Most systems ask you to upload a copy of the work. That might be an audio file, a lead sheet, a lyric sheet, or a mix of those. Use clear file names so you know what you sent. You are not giving up the rights. You are sending a reference copy that shows what you created.
Step #7: Pay the fee and keep your confirmation.
Submit the form, pay the filing fee, and save the receipt and confirmation email. The office may take time to process the registration. Your application still carries weight from the date you filed. Keep your records in a place you trust, along with your original session files and notes.
Record Label’s Impact on Music Rights
When you sign with a label, the agreement shifts how your rights work. The label may handle certain rights on your behalf or take ownership of parts of your catalog, depending on the deal you accept. This is why you need to understand what you own before you sign anything.
Most labels seek ownership of the master recording. That means they control the version of the song you record under the contract. You usually keep the composition unless you agree to transfer it, but the label may administer it for you. The contract outlines exactly who holds what, so read every line with care.
A label can also help you protect the rights you keep. They register your music, track your royalties, and handle licensing requests. They manage the business so you can focus on the work. This support matters when your catalog grows, and more people use your songs.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement happens when someone uses your work without permission. It covers recordings, lyrics, melodies, and any material you created that belongs to you. A person can’t take your song, rerecord it, or use it online without clearance. When someone crosses that line, the law views it as a violation of your rights.
When You Can File a Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
You have the right to file a lawsuit when someone uses your music without permission, and that use violates one of your exclusive rights. This includes recording your song, releasing your work, performing it publicly, or placing it in a project without clearance. The key is that the use must involve a piece of music you created and fixed in a recorded or written form.
Before you can file a lawsuit in federal court, you need a registered copyright. You can still request that someone take your work down without registration, but formal legal action requires a completed registration on file. This step gives you the legal proof needed to move forward.
You also need clear evidence that the person had access to your work or that the copied material matches your original composition or recording in a meaningful way. Courts look for substantial similarity. They want to see that the other party used elements of your work that copyright protects, not common phrases or generic structures. Once these pieces line up, you can bring a case to recover damages or stop the unauthorized use.
How to Get Music Rights: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get music rights?
You pay a filing fee when you register your copyright with your country’s copyright office. In the United States, the fee sits in a modest range and depends on the type of filing you choose. Once you complete that registration, you hold formal proof of ownership for your music.
Does copyright help me make money from my music?
Yes. Copyright protects your songs and recordings so you control how they are used. This control allows you to collect royalties from streaming, radio plays, live performances, and licenses. When people use your music, you earn money because the rights link directly to your income.
How do I get the rights to my music?
You hold the rights the moment you write your song and fix it in a recorded or written form. To secure formal proof, register your work with the copyright office in your country. This step strengthens your ownership and gives you legal backing if anyone uses your music without permission.
What is the 80/20 rule in songwriting?
The 80/20 rule in songwriting refers to split agreements. One writer may receive eighty percent of the composition share, and another writer may receive twenty percent. The writers decide the split based on contribution. The agreement should be written and saved so the rights remain clear.
Submit Your Demo to Hardstop Records
If you want support that respects your work and protects your rights, we want to hear from you. We listen to every demo because real artists deserve real attention. When you’re ready to take the next step with a label that treats artists with care, submit your demo to Hardstop Records.