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MB101 TNM Supplemental Course Copyright & Mechanical Royalties

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Parts of a Song – Legal and Structural Insights

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Parts of a Song: Legal and Structural Insights

Understanding the legal and structural components of a song is essential for any music creator. This module explores the critical differences between compositions and recordings, the legal protections for lyrics, and the various copyright forms (PA vs. SR) that safeguard your work.

What You’ll Learn in This Section:

✅ Composition vs. Recorded Song – Understanding how copyright applies to each.

✅ Lyrics as Intellectual Property – How lyrics are legally classified as literary works.

✅ PA vs. SR Forms – The difference between protecting a song’s structure vs. its recording.

✅ The Five Copyright Rights + Digital Audio Transmission – How artists maintain control over their work.

✅ Sync Rights & Real-World Legal Scenarios – Why licensing matters for film, TV, and media.

This section equips you with real-world knowledge to navigate music ownership, registration, and rights management, ensuring that your creations remain legally protected and financially valuable. 🚀🎶




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1. What is the key difference between a composition and a recorded song?
A composition includes only lyrics, while a recorded song includes music. A composition refers to the underlying melody, harmony, and rhythm, while a recorded song is a specific performance of that composition. A recorded song has copyright protection, but compositions do not Compositions only apply to classical music, not modern songs.
2. Why do lyrics hold separate copyright protection from the musical composition?
Lyrics are considered “literary works” under copyright law, giving them independent protection. Lyrics cannot be copyrighted at all. Only lyrics written before 1978 can be copyrighted separately. Copyright applies only to sheet music, not words.
3. What is the main difference between PA (Performing Arts) and SR (Sound Recording) copyright forms?
PA protects the composition (music and lyrics), while SR protects a specific recorded performance. SR is used for live performances, while PA is used for digital recordings Both PA and SR must be filed together for a song to be protected. PA only applies to film soundtracks.
4. Which of the following is NOT one of the five main rights granted under copyright law?
Reproduction (making copies). Performance (publicly playing the music). Digital Audio Transmission (specific to sound recordings). Free public access to the song.
5. Why are Synchronization (Sync) Rights important in the music industry?
They allow music to be combined with visual content like films and commercials. They grant automatic permission for any artist to remix a song. They make it legal to download music from streaming services. They prevent copyright holders from earning revenue from their music.