Creating Music

Protection of your music by copyright

If you are creating or composing music, copyright protection in that music exists automatically when you write down the music or record it in some format. If you want to remind others of your rights as the copyright owner you can include the copyright statement (c) [Name of Composer] [Year of creation]. But the work will be protected without this.

How long does this copyright protection last?

Copyright in composed music or a new arrangement of music lasts for the life of the composer or arranger plus 70 years. See duration of copyright protection

Separate copyright in lyrics, music and sound recording

If you are composing lyrics for a song you will own separate copyright in the lyrics. There will be a separate copyright in any music that is composed. There will also be a different copyright owner for any recording of the performance of the song. If you are a performer on a live recording made after 1 January 2005 and you were not an employee or working under a contract for the recording, you may also have part ownership rights in the sound recording.

Your protection and granting permission

If you are a copyright owner - you own copyright in composed/arranged music or lyrics or own the copyright in a sound recording, you have the right to control the publishing, performing, copying, communicating and recording of your work. Anyone that wants to perform or record your song, photocopy your sheet mucic or make a copy of the sound recording must contact you for permission, unless an exeption in the Copyright Act applies.

Royalties and licensing options

As a copyright owner you can transfer or assign (sell) rights or rent out (licence) rights to different people or organisations. Often creators will transfer their rights to a collecting society or a publishing company in return for royalties. You can also sell your work directly to the public or licence it through a Creative Commons licence or other licence scheme.

But you need to carefully consider your options because once you have transferred those rights, you may not be able to get them back.

For more information see royalties and licensing options