How to Copyright a Song
For Artists
Your song is copyrighted the moment you create it and fix it in a tangible form, whether that is a voice memo, a DAW session, or handwritten lyrics. No registration is required for basic protection. But registering with the US Copyright Office ($65 for a single song, $85 for up to 10) gives you the ability to sue for infringement, claim statutory damages up to $150,000, and recover attorney's fees.
There is a persistent myth that you need to "copyright" your music before it is protected. You do not. Copyright is automatic. What you need is registration, which is a separate, voluntary step that gives your automatic copyright legal teeth.
Music Copyright Basics covers the full picture of copyright law for artists: the two copyrights in every song, ownership, fair use, and how deals transfer rights. This article answers the specific question most artists search for: how do I copyright my song, and what does it actually give me?
What You Already Have (Without Doing Anything)
The moment you record a voice memo of a melody, type lyrics into your phone, or save a session in your DAW, copyright protection attaches automatically. This is true under US law and the Berne Convention, which covers most countries worldwide.
You do not need the copyright symbol on your work. You do not need to file paperwork. You do not need to mail yourself a copy (the "poor man's copyright" myth has no legal standing).
What automatic copyright gives you:
Legal ownership of the work
The right to control reproduction, distribution, and performance
The right to license the work to others
The right to create derivative works
What automatic copyright does not give you:
The ability to file a federal infringement lawsuit
Eligibility for statutory damages (up to $150,000 per work)
Eligibility to recover attorney's fees if you win
A timestamped public record of your ownership claim
That second list is why registration matters.
When Registration Matters
Registration becomes critical in three situations.
Someone uses your song without permission. Without registration, your options are limited to cease-and-desist letters. If the infringer ignores you, you cannot file a federal lawsuit. With registration, you can sue, and if you registered before the infringement occurred, you can claim statutory damages and attorney's fees. Without timely registration, you can only claim "actual damages," which for a song means proving the exact dollar amount you lost. That is nearly impossible to calculate, which means you recover very little even if you win.
A dispute over ownership arises. A registration certificate is a timestamped public record of your claim. In a "who wrote it first" dispute, that timestamp is powerful evidence.
You want to license your work commercially. Sync supervisors, publishers, and labels sometimes ask for proof of registration before entering licensing agreements. It signals that you take your business seriously.
How to Register a Song with the US Copyright Office
The process is straightforward. You do it online at copyright.gov.
Step-by-Step
Create an account at copyright.gov.
Start a new registration. Select "Work of the Performing Arts" for a song.
Enter the title, author(s), and year of creation.
Specify the nature of authorship: music, lyrics, or both.
If it is a sound recording, you can register both the composition and the recording in one application.
Upload a copy of the work (MP3, WAV, or PDF of lyrics/sheet music).
Pay the fee.
Submit.
Processing takes 3-6 months, but your protection dates back to your filing date, not the processing date. File promptly after releasing.
Registration Costs
Registration Type | Cost | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Single work (one song) | $65 | One composition or one sound recording |
Single work (song + recording) | $65 | Both copyrights if same author |
Group of published songs (up to 10) | $85 | Multiple songs in one filing |
Group of unpublished songs (up to 10) | $85 | Multiple songs in one filing |
Group registration is the cost-effective approach for most artists. A 10-song album registered as a group costs $85 total. That is $8.50 per song for protection that lasts your lifetime plus 70 years.
The Two Copyrights: What You Are Registering
Every recorded song creates two separate copyrights, and you can register both.
The composition copyright covers the song as written: melody, lyrics, arrangement. If you wrote the song, you own this. If you co-wrote it, you share ownership with your co-writers according to your agreed split sheet.
The sound recording copyright covers the specific recorded version. If you paid for and directed the recording, you own the master. If a label or producer funded it, they may own it or share ownership depending on the agreement.
If you are the sole author of both the composition and the recording, you can register both in a single application for $65. If different people own each copyright (common when a label owns the master), separate registrations are needed.
For the complete breakdown of how these two copyrights affect your income and licensing, see Music Copyright Basics.
Common Mistakes
Waiting until a problem arises to register. Statutory damages and attorney's fees are only available if you registered before the infringement occurred (or within 3 months of publication). Registering after you discover infringement limits you to actual damages, which are often minimal.
Not registering co-written songs. If you co-write, the split should be documented on a split sheet and the work registered. Without both, a dispute can freeze all royalties for every writer.
Confusing platform credits with legal registration. Being listed as a songwriter on Spotify or Apple Music is metadata for streaming platforms. It is not a copyright registration. Platform credits and Copyright Office registrations are separate processes with separate legal weight.
Skipping registration because it "costs too much." Group registration covers 10 songs for $85. One studio session costs more. One unprotected infringement claim costs far more in lost revenue and legal fees.
Artists managing releases and collaborations across multiple projects can use Orphiq to keep track of what is registered, what needs registration, and who owns what.
For the broader business foundation every artist needs, including legal structure, taxes, and contracts, see Music Business Essentials. For an overview of how different license types work, see Music Licensing Types Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to copyright every song I write?
Copyright protection is automatic for every song. Registration is optional but recommended for every song you release commercially. Group registration keeps the cost manageable.
Does registering with ASCAP or BMI copyright my song?
No. PRO registration records you as the songwriter for royalty collection purposes. It does not create a copyright registration with the US Copyright Office. These are separate processes.
Can I copyright a beat or instrumental?
Yes. An original instrumental composition qualifies for copyright protection. Register it the same way you would register any other musical work.
How long does copyright protection last?
For works created after 1978: the life of the author plus 70 years. For joint works, the life of the last surviving author plus 70 years.
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