What does recording copyright cover and who typically owns it?

What does recording copyright cover and who typically owns it?

• A. The lyrics and melody; owned by the songwriter.
• B. The arrangement; owned by the publisher.
• C. The live performance; owned by the venue.
• D. The specific recorded version; owned by the artist and the record company.

Answer: (D)

Recording copyright protects the actual sound recording—the master of a specific performance—separate from the song’s lyrics and melody. The owner is usually the person or entity that financed and produced the recording, most often the record label, which holds the master rights. If the artist retains control of the master or if the contract provides joint ownership, ownership can be shared, typically between the artist and the record company. This matches the idea that the master—the precise recorded version—is owned by the party that produced it, often with the artist and the label involved. The other options describe rights in the song’s composition, an arranged version, or live performances, which are different kinds of rights.

Recording copyright protects the actual sound recording—the master of a specific performance—separate from the song’s lyrics and melody. The owner is usually the person or entity that financed and produced the recording, most often the record label, which holds the master rights. If the artist retains control of the master or if the contract provides joint ownership, ownership can be shared, typically between the artist and the record company. This matches the idea that the master—the precise recorded version—is owned by the party that produced it, often with the artist and the label involved. The other options describe rights in the song’s composition, an arranged version, or live performances, which are different kinds of rights.