Ownership

• The moment a piece of music is written down or recorded, the author holds the copyright to it, meaning the writer owns it. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, only the owner of a copyright may perform, distribute, or authorize others to distribute his music. This right lasts until 70 years after an author's death.
  
  

Proper Registration

• To ensure proper copyright status, a songwriter or recording artist should register her music with the U.S. Copyright Office by sending in a completed form PA (Performing Arts) or SR (Sound Recordings), a registration fee, and a CD with lyrics.
  
  

What Can Be Copyrighted?

• The melody and lyrics of a song can be copyrighted. Chord progressions and rhythm are usually not protected unless they are a totally original and crucial element to a specific song.
  
  

Publishers and Record Labels

• A copyright owner may transfer ownership at any time. This is only valid if a contract called an assignment is written and signed between parties. Music copyrights are often sold from authors to music publishers or record labels in exchange for music licensing and royalties.
  
  

Other Ownership

• A music copyright does not belong to one sole owner if a song was co-written or if it was written in a work-for-hire situation, where a songwriter is under contract of a publisher to write songs.