Even though copyright protection automatically applies to your song as soon as it’s in tangible form (written or recorded)¹, it’s still a good idea to register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office.

A copyright gives you a public record of your copyright claim and can make it easier to enforce your rights if you run into disputes.

Here are two practical reasons to copyright your music…

Copyrighting your music gives you legal protection against others using your work without your permission.

This means that if someone tries to use your music without paying you or giving you credit, you can take legal action (or threaten to take action) to stop them and potentially seek damages.

Having a registered copyright provides evidence of your ownership of the song(s).

This can be important in the event of any disputes over ownership or originality of your music. Or just to prove that you wrote that one Grammy-winning track.

Here are some quick facts that you need to know about copyrighting your music in the U.S.

Copyright protection applies automatically to any original creative work as soon as it’s written down or recorded (“in tangible form”).

So technically, you don’t have to register your copyright or take any other specific steps to receive copyright protection.

However…

Even though copyright protection applies automatically to your music, it’s a good idea to register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office.

It gives you a public record of your copyright claim and can make it easier to enforce your rights.

The copyright term for music is the life of the creator plus 70 years after their death.

Uses including reproducing it, distributing copies, or performing it publicly.

This means that someone may need your permission to use your music in certain ways, like if they want to license it for TV.

If you discover that someone is using your music without permission, you have the right to take legal action to stop them and potentially seek damages.

To increase the chances of success in enforcing your copyright, it is important to have a strong and well-documented case.

Okay, here are the exact steps you need to take to copyright your song…

This one is obvious, but important.

This means you need to write down the lyrics and record the music.

Remember, copyright protection automatically applies to any original creative work as soon as it’s in a tangible form, like being written down or recorded.

And it’s a good idea to keep a record of the date that you created your song. This can be helpful if you run into any disputes over ownership or originality.

To register your copyright, you’ll need to fill out a copyright registration application online.

If you own the sound recording and the composition, you can register up to 20 songs for $85.

If you only wrote the song but don’t own the recording, you’ll need to register each song individually using a Standard Application.

If you own the sound recording and the composition, here’s how you copyright up to 20 songs at once²:

1. Visit copyright.gov
2. Click “Register your works”
3. Click “Log in to the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) Registration System” (if you don’t have an account, you’ll register for one)
4. Under “Other Registration Options,” click “Register a Group of Unpublished Works
5. On the next page, for the Type of Work, choose “Sound Recording”
6. On the next page, hit the “New” button and begin the process

You’ll need to provide:

• The song titles
• The names of the songwriter(s) and composer(s)
• The date of creation for each song
• A recording of each song

While, yes, you can register a copyright for your entire song (lyrics and music combined), you may also want to copyright the lyrics and the music separately.

This can be a good idea if you’ve collaborated with other songwriters or composers and want to make sure everyone is properly credited and compensated.

To copyright the lyrics and music separately, you’ll need to fill out separate copyright registration applications for each.

Be sure to include the names of all the writers and composers involved in the song, as well as the percentage of the song that each person contributed.

Again, this isn’t necessary. But if you have the time and budget, it could be a good idea.

This one is a bit more challenging for indie artists on a budget.

If someone steals your song, you may not have the money to hire a lawyer.

However, because you copyrighted the song, you can show the perpetrator real proof that you have grounds to sue. Maybe that will be enough to get them to take down the song, or maybe cut you in as a songwriter on their song.

Just make sure you keep good records of your copyright. Store the files (physical and/or digital) somewhere safe yet easily accessible by you.

By following the steps above, you can protect your music and make sure you’re properly credited and not taken advantage of.