music rights
Composition licensing permissions
Music rights are the legal entitlements governing who can use, perform, reproduce, or profit from a musical work.
These rights typically divide between the composition (lyrics and melody) and the recording (a specific performance of that composition), each potentially owned by different parties.
Licensing music for films, commercials, or streaming requires clearing the appropriate rights: The documentary was delayed while they negotiated music rights.
- royaltiesOngoing payments to creators
- intellectual propertyLegal rights over inventions
- anti-piracy measuresSafeguards against unauthorized duplication
- artistMaker of creative works
- record labelsCompanies releasing recorded music
streaming royalties · derivative works · broadcast license · claim · takedown notice · label · streaming · master · catalog · clearance · sync · cover song · collection · residuals · publishing · broadcasters · ownership · splits
- music businessrecord label, record deal, royalty, album, single
- intellectual propertypatents, patent, trademark, trademarks, copyrights
- Exclusive Rightsfirst refusal, sole supplier
- Film Budgetsproduction costs, above the line, below the line, contingency fund, line items
- intangible assetsintangible assets, patent, trade secret, brand, trademark
- Licensing Termslicense fees, royalties, terms, conditions, exclusivity
music rightspublic domain
Unprotected creative works
creative commons · copyleft · royalty-free · community property · commons
music rightscopyright infringement
Unauthorized use of protected works
unauthorized use · bootlegging · rights violation · intellectual property theft
music rightsmaster recording
Original studio recording
physical media · vinyl record · CD · sheet music · music file