How to Register a Song with the Copyright Office
For Artists
You register a song by filing an application through the U.S. Copyright Office's eCO system at copyright.gov. A single song by one author costs $65, and a group on one album costs $85. The process takes 10 to 15 minutes to file and 3 to 6 months to process, but your protection dates back to the day you submit.
Your song is already copyrighted the moment you record it. That is automatic under U.S. law. So why register? Because automatic copyright gives you ownership, but registration gives you the ability to enforce that ownership in court.
Without registration, someone can use your song and your legal options are limited to sending letters they can ignore. With it, you can claim up to $150,000 in statutory damages per infringement and recover attorney's fees.
The full explanation of what copyright protects and why it matters is in Music Copyright Basics. This article is the step-by-step walkthrough of the registration process itself.
What You Are Actually Registering
Every recorded song creates two separate copyrights. You can register one or both.
Copyright Type | What It Covers | eCO Form Type | Who Should Register |
|---|---|---|---|
Composition (PA) | The melody, lyrics, and arrangement | Performing Arts (PA) | Songwriters |
Sound Recording (SR) | The specific recorded version (the master) | Sound Recording (SR) | The person or entity that funded and directed the recording |
If you wrote and recorded the song yourself, you own both. You can register them together on a single SR application (which covers the sound recording and the underlying composition if they share the same author and claimant). If different people own the composition and the recording, separate applications are needed.
For a deeper explanation of the difference between these two copyrights, see Publishing vs Master Rights.
Step-by-Step Registration Through eCO
Step 1: Create an Account
Go to copyright.gov and create a free account on the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) system. You need an email address. The account is permanent and tracks all your registrations.
Step 2: Start a New Registration
Log in and click "Register a Work" on the left sidebar. Select "Standard Application." You will be asked to choose the type of work.
If you wrote and recorded the song and own both copyrights: Select "Sound Recording." This registers both the recording and the underlying composition in one application when the author and claimant are the same person.
If you are registering the composition only (someone else owns the master): Select "Work of the Performing Arts."
Step 3: Fill in the Application
The form asks for several pieces of information. Here is what each field requires.
Field | What to Enter |
|---|---|
Title | The exact title of the song as it appears on streaming platforms |
Year of completion | The year you finished the recording |
Date of first publication | The date the song was released to the public (the release date on your distributor) |
Author | Your legal name (or the legal names of all co-authors) |
Author's contribution | Check the boxes for what you created: music, lyrics, sound recording |
Claimant | The person or entity that owns the copyright (usually you) |
Limitation of claim | Only needed if your song contains material you did not create (a sample, for example) |
Common confusion point: "Author" means the person who created the work. "Claimant" means the person who owns the copyright. For most independent artists, these are the same person.
Step 4: Pay the Fee
Registration Type | Fee | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Single work, single author | $65 | One song, one writer, one claimant |
Standard application | $85 | One song with multiple authors or more complex claims |
Group of unpublished works (GRUW) | $85 | Up to 10 unpublished songs by the same author |
GRAM (album group registration) | $85 | Up to 20 published works on the same album |
Pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check directly through the eCO portal.
Step 5: Upload Your Deposit
The deposit is the copy of your work that the Copyright Office keeps on file. This is the evidence of what you are protecting.
For a sound recording: Upload an MP3 or WAV file of the final recording.
For a composition only: Upload a PDF of lyrics, sheet music, or a lead sheet.
For both (SR application covering the recording and composition): Upload the audio file. The recording serves as the deposit for both copyrights.
Upload each file individually. Do not bundle files into a ZIP. Each file must be under 500MB.
Step 6: Submit and Wait
Review your application, confirm the details, and submit. You will receive a confirmation email. Processing takes 3 to 6 months, but your protection dates back to the date you filed. If someone infringes your song during the processing window, your registration is effective as of the filing date.
Single Work vs Group Registration
For most independent artists, group registration is the smarter financial move.
Approach | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Register each song individually ($65 each) | $650 for 10 songs | Artists who release singles over time |
GRUW (up to 10 unpublished works) | $85 total | Registering demos or an unreleased batch before release |
GRAM (up to 20 works on an album) | $85 total | Registering an album or EP after release |
A 10-song album registered individually costs $650. The same album registered through GRAM costs $85. Both provide the same legal protection. The only constraint on GRAM is that all works must be on the same album and share at least one common author.
Common Registration Mistakes
Waiting until someone infringes. If you register after infringement occurs, you lose access to statutory damages and attorney's fee recovery. Register within 3 months of publication or before any infringement to preserve these remedies.
Confusing copyright registration with PRO registration. Registering with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC registers you to collect performance royalties, not to protect your copyright. These are separate processes serving different purposes. For PRO registration, see How to Register with a PRO.
Wrong type of work selected. Choosing "Performing Arts" when you should choose "Sound Recording" (or vice versa) can result in incomplete protection. If you wrote and recorded the song, choose "Sound Recording" to cover both in one application.
No split sheet for co-written songs. If you register a co-written song, every author must be listed on the application. Disputes over who wrote what can delay or complicate registration. Agree on splits before filing. For templates and guidance, see Split Sheets.
Uploading the wrong file. Your deposit must match the version you are registering. If you upload a rough mix but release a different master, the deposit does not accurately represent the published work. Upload the final, released version.
What Registration Does Not Do
Registration protects your song under federal law. It does not do these things:
It does not register your artist name (that is a trademark), collect royalties (that is your distributor, PRO, and The MLC), or prove you wrote the song first if someone else has an earlier registration of similar material. It does not prevent someone from infringing. It gives you the legal tools to respond when they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register copyright before releasing a song?
No. Copyright exists automatically when you create the work. But registering within 3 months of release preserves access to statutory damages. File promptly after release.
Can I register multiple songs at once?
Yes. GRUW covers up to 10 unpublished works for $85. GRAM covers up to 20 published works on one album for $85. Both require the same author and claimant.
How long does copyright registration take?
Processing takes 3 to 6 months. Your protection is effective from the filing date, not the processing date. You can check status through your eCO account.
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