Songwriters Copyright and Music Publishing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A song has two distinct copyrights. What are they?
- The musical composition and the sound recording (Correct answer)
- The lyrics and the melody
- The title and the chorus
- The label copyright and the artist copyright
Correct answer: The musical composition and the sound recording
Every song has a composition copyright (notes/lyrics) and a separate sound recording copyright (the master).
Question 2: Which PRO is a nonprofit owned by its songwriter and publisher members?
- BMI
- SESAC
- ASCAP (Correct answer)
- GMR
Correct answer: ASCAP
ASCAP is a member-owned nonprofit performing rights organization.
Question 3: A mechanical royalty is paid for which use of a song?
- Radio airplay
- Reproduction in physical or digital copies (Correct answer)
- Live performance
- Use in a TV ad
Correct answer: Reproduction in physical or digital copies
Mechanical royalties are owed when a composition is reproduced, such as on streams, downloads, CDs, or vinyl.
Question 4: What does a compulsory mechanical license allow someone to do?
- Sample a recording freely
- Record a cover of a previously released song without the writer's permission (Correct answer)
- Perform a song publicly for free
- Change the lyrics of any song
Correct answer: Record a cover of a previously released song without the writer's permission
U.S. law lets anyone record and release a cover of a non-dramatic song once it has been released, by paying the statutory rate.
Question 5: Who administers blanket mechanical licenses for streaming in the U.S.?
- The Copyright Office
- The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) (Correct answer)
- ASCAP
- The RIAA
Correct answer: The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)
The MLC, created by the Music Modernization Act, issues blanket mechanical licenses and pays writers for digital uses.
Question 6: A 'split sheet' is used to document what?
- The release date of a song
- Each writer's ownership percentage of a song (Correct answer)
- The recording studio costs
- The publisher's marketing budget
Correct answer: Each writer's ownership percentage of a song
A split sheet records who wrote what and each contributor's ownership percentage to prevent disputes.
Question 7: What is the 'writer's share' of performance royalties?
- The full 100% paid to the publisher
- The portion paid directly to the songwriter, separate from the publisher's share (Correct answer)
- Royalties from merchandise sales
- An advance against future royalties
Correct answer: The portion paid directly to the songwriter, separate from the publisher's share
Performance royalties are split into a writer's share paid to the songwriter and a publisher's share, even when one entity controls publishing.
Songwriters Copyright and Music Publishing 2
A song has two distinct copyrights.
What are they?