Right Management

Rights management in music is the process of protecting, licensing, and monetizing the intellectual property (IP) rights associated with a song or album. This includes both master rights (ownership of the actual recording) and publishing rights (ownership of the composition, lyrics, and melody). Proper rights management ensures that artists and creators get paid whenever their work is streamed, performed, or reproduced.

To manage rights, musicians can register their works with Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, or PRS, which track public performances and collect royalties on their behalf. Additionally, mechanical licensing agencies manage royalties from digital sales and streaming, while platforms like YouTube use Content ID to track and monetize content that uses an artist’s music. Rights management is essential to secure all revenue streams and prevent unauthorized use, ultimately protecting an artist’s financial and creative interests.