The Copyright Crash Course Every Musician Needs

This one’s for every songwriter, producer, and creator who’s ever wondered, “Do I actually own my song?” In this must-hear episode, Tzayla breaks down everything you need to know about copyrights—what they are, how they’re created, how to protect them, and how to avoid getting ripped off. Whether you’re releasing your first single or building a catalog, this episode will help you stop guessing and start owning your work like a pro.

Key Takeaways:

• Copyrights happen automatically the moment you record or write something original—but proving ownership requires documentation.
• You own six exclusive rights when you hold a copyright, including the right to perform, reproduce, license, and stream your music.
• Registration matters. You can’t sue for infringement or collect damages unless your work is officially registered at copyright.gov.
• Dated evidence is your friend: Keep lyric sheets, voice memos, session files, and email chains as proof of creation.
• Use split sheets for every collaboration to agree on who owns what before the song goes public.
• Be careful what you post. Don’t share full demos online if you haven’t protected them yet.
• Some creations you don’t own: Work-for-hire contracts, collaborations, or samples without clearance can mean you lose all rights—even if you made the song.

Resources & Links:

• Register your music: www.copyright.gov
• Need a split sheet template? DM @tzayla.official and she’ll send you one.
• Want to go deeper? Future episodes will cover royalties, ASCAP, SoundExchange, and how to get paid properly.

More from Tzayla:

• Music, blog, podcast, & more: tzayla.com
• Instagram: @tzayla.official

Got questions?

DM @tzayla.official or leave a comment—especially if there's a specific copyright, royalty, or contract topic you’d like her to break down in a future episode.

Your music is valuable. Your rights are real. And protecting them is one of the most powerful things you can do for your future. Don’t wait until something goes wrong—get smart now.

Adventure sounds like THIS

Thanks for listening and Keep Dreaming Big!

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