Composition

In-Depth Explanation

A Composition (legally referred to as a "Musical Work") is the intellectual property consisting of the lyrics and the musical melody of a song. It exists independently of any specific audio recording. The copyright in a composition belongs to the songwriter the moment the work is fixed in a tangible medium, and it generates performance, mechanical, sync, and print royalties whenever the song is used commercially.

How a Composition Works

Every piece of recorded music you hear on Spotify contains two entirely separate copyrights:

1. The Composition (the song): Owned by the songwriters and their Publisher. This is the intellectual property covering the lyrics, melody, and arrangement.
2. The Master Recording (the audio): Owned by the performing artist and their Record Label. This is the specific recorded performance of the composition.

If you write down lyrics on a piece of paper and hum the melody into your phone, you have created a composition. You own the copyright the moment it is Fixed in a Tangible Medium. No registration is required for copyright to exist, though registering with the US Copyright Office strengthens your ability to enforce those rights.

By default, the people who wrote the song own it equally. If three co-writers sit in a room and write a song together, they should sign a Split Sheet to legally determine what percentage each person owns. Without a split sheet, disputes over ownership can lead to withheld royalty payments and legal action.

The copyright ownership of a composition is known as the Publishing Rights. If a songwriter signs a publishing deal, they typically transfer a percentage of this ownership (often 50%) to the publisher in exchange for the publisher's services.

Real-World Example

Bob Dylan wrote the lyrics and melody to "All Along the Watchtower" in 1967. He owns the composition. Jimi Hendrix recorded his famous version of the song later that year. His record label (Reprise Records) paid for the studio time and owns the master recording of that specific performance.

When Hendrix's version plays on the radio today:

• The radio station pays a performance royalty to Bob Dylan (as the composition owner) through his PRO.
• The radio station also needs a license to broadcast Hendrix's specific master recording, which generates a separate payment to the label.

Dylan's composition copyright is entirely separate from Hendrix's master recording copyright. Dylan could license his composition to hundreds of other artists, and each new recording would create a new master copyright while the underlying composition remains owned by Dylan.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you write and record your own music, you own 100% of both the composition and the master recording. This is the best possible position to be in. However, owning the composition is only half the battle. You must actively register it to collect the money it generates.

A composition generates four distinct revenue streams:

1. Performance Royalties: Generated when the composition is played publicly (radio, TV, live concerts, streaming). Collected by a PRO like ASCAP or BMI.
2. Mechanical Royalties: Generated when the composition is reproduced (vinyl, CDs, interactive streaming). Collected by The MLC in the United States.
3. Sync Licenses: A negotiated upfront fee paid when a film, TV show, or advertisement wants to synchronize the composition with visual media.
4. Print Royalties: Generated from the sale of sheet music or lyric reprints.

To collect all of these, you must register with a PRO (for performance royalties) and either a Publishing Administration service or The MLC directly (for mechanical royalties). If you do not register, your royalties go uncollected and eventually become Unclaimed Royalties.

Always sign a split sheet before leaving the studio after a co-writing session. This prevents publishing disputes and ensures every co-writer can register their share with their respective PRO. Read our guide on music copyright basics and our music royalty splits guide for more detail.

Related Terms

• Publishing Rights - The ownership rights associated with a composition
• Master Recording - The specific audio recording of a composition, owned separately
• Mechanical Royalties - Royalties paid when a composition is reproduced
• Performance Royalties - Royalties paid when a composition is performed publicly
• Split Sheet - The document that establishes ownership percentages among co-writers