From the course: Music Law: Copyrighting a Song
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Who owns a song?
- The songwriter is the initial owner of the song copyright. As copyright owner, the songwriter can sell, license or give the copyright to someone else. Copyright owners can even use song copyrights to secure loans. That is, as a form of collateral. If a song copyright owner dies and does not leave a will, then state laws kick in, known as intestate rules, and the state decides who inherits the song, usually a spouse, child or other relative. If a copyright is bequeathed to several people, they become co-owners and can sell or otherwise dispose of their individual shares. Many song copyrights are bought and sold, sometimes as investments. Typically, the company doing the buying is a music publisher, a business that exploits song copyrights, collects revenue and takes care of the paperwork. A music publisher acquires ownership of a song copyright by signing a music publishing agreement with the songwriter. Typically, the music publishing agreement provides for the songwriter to receive…
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