Research Guides: Music Business: Copyright Resources & Music Industry Associations

Copyright Resources

A copyright provides the owner with the exclusive right to a particular work for a limited duration of time. Following is a select list of resources.

Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools.
The Musician's Legal Companion
This e-book offers information on the following topics: Songwriting and music publishing agreements, Recording artist agreements, Artist-management agreements, Performance agreements, Business entities, Distribution and promotions agreements and more.
Music Library Association Copyright Guide
This site is maintained by the Legislation Committee of the Music Library Association (MLA) as a resource for anyone interested in issues of copyright as they apply to the fields of music and music librarianship.
National Association for Music Education (Copyright Center)
Provides resources that can help better understand U.S. copyright law.
NYU Copyright Policy
The use and creation of copyrighted materials affects many aspects of day-to-day life at NYU. The policies and guidelines collected below have been developed to help faculty, staff, and students understand their rights and obligations under copyright law.
NYU Libraries Copyright Research Guide
The Handbook for Use of Copyrighted Materials provides additional guidance to the NYU community on using copyrighted works and applying Fair Use. Questions regarding copyright and Fair Use can be sent to fairuse@nyu.edu. All questions will be reviewed and responded to promptly.
U.S. Copyright Office Website
Copyright law is the engine of free expression in our society and a major building block of the U.S. economy. Our national system of copyright law, which the Office administers, plays an essential role in the creation, promotion, and dissemination of American works of authorship throughout the world, and sustains businesses large and small in the information, entertainment, and technology sectors.

Music Associations

Industry associations establish best practices for an industry and/or its workforce and can be a vehicle to increase credibility and gain public trust, create a competitive advantage and protect consumers. They can also provide a unified voice in public policy and advocacy and many function as lobbyists for the industry.

ASCAP the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
ASCAP, an organization owned and run by its members, is the leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing over 450,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.
Country Music Association (CMA)
CMA is the trade association serving the Country Music industry. Formed in 1958 as the first trade association for a single genre of music.
Music Publishers' Association (MPA)
Founded in 1895, the Music Publishers Association is the oldest music trade organization in the United States, fostering communication among publishers, dealers, music educators, and all ultimate users of music. This non-profit association addresses itself to issues pertaining to every area of music publishing with an emphasis on the issues relevant to the publishers of print music for concert and educational purposes.
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. Its members are the music labels that comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world. Use this open source website to find music sales figures.
SESAC Repertory
The SESAC repertory database contains works in the SESAC repertory for which SESAC, Inc. has compiled information from various sources. The database lists songs or compositions, titles, composers, authors and publisher information on musical compositions, including copyrighted arrangements of public domain works.