What is protected when you write a song?
The moment your song is saved as an audio file, MIDI bounce, or sheet music, United States copyright law recognizes two separate rights:
Sound Recording
The actual track you export from your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation, the software you use to record and mix). This is the specific performance and production captured in the file.
Musical Composition
The melody and lyrics you created. This exists independently of any single recording of the song.
You can license or sell each right separately, so keep clear records of ownership from day one.
The Copyright Office registers only music that shows meaningful human creativity. Pure machine-generated tracks cannot be registered, so include and document your contribution when you file.
Why register if you are already protected?
Registration is optional yet valuable. Here is what it gives you:
Three reasons to register
1. A dated public record proving when the work was created.
2. Eligibility for higher statutory damages if someone infringes.
3. Cleaner paperwork when labels or co-writers join later.
How to register at copyright.gov
Open the eCO portal
eCO stands for Electronic Copyright Office. It is the online system where you file your registration. Go to copyright.gov and log in or create an account.
Choose the right category
Select "Sound Recording and Musical Composition" to cover both rights in one filing.
Upload your file
MP3, WAV, or PDF are accepted formats.
Pay the filing fee
$45 for a single song or $65 for a group filing.
Save the certificate
Download and store the certificate PDF when it arrives. Keep it with your session files.
Mechanical vs. Performance Royalties
Two distinct revenue streams exist for every song. Understanding the difference is key to collecting everything you are owed.
Mechanical Royalties
Paid when a composition is reproduced: vinyl, CD, download, or any on-demand stream.
Performance Royalties
Paid when a song is played in public: FM radio, live venues, restaurants, and most streaming platforms.
A single Spotify play triggers both types of royalties. You need the correct accounts set up to collect them. Missing either one means leaving money on the table.
Four beginner accounts you must set up
In Section 3 you learned that every song generates two types of royalties. The problem is that no single organization collects all of them for you. You need accounts with four different organizations to make sure every dollar reaches you. All four are free to join.
Why four accounts?
Each organization handles a different slice of your royalties. Think of it like having a checking account and a savings account at different banks. They each hold different money, and you need to sign up for each one to access what is yours.
1. Performing Rights Organization (PRO)
A PRO collects performance royalties on your behalf. Whenever your song is played on the radio, performed live, streamed, or played in a restaurant or store, the PRO tracks that usage and pays you.
The two main PROs in the United States are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). You only need to join one. Both are free for songwriters.
Tip: If you also self-publish your music (meaning you do not have a publishing company), register as both a songwriter and a publisher with your PRO so you collect both shares.
2. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC)
The MLC collects mechanical royalties from streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others in the United States. These are the royalties paid every time someone streams your song on demand.
The MLC was created by federal law in 2021 under the Music Modernization Act. Before it existed, billions of dollars in mechanical royalties went unclaimed. Registration is free at themlc.com.
3. SoundExchange
SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties on the sound recording (the actual track, not the composition). This covers non-interactive platforms like Pandora, SiriusXM satellite radio, and internet radio webcasters.
This is different from your PRO. Your PRO collects performance royalties on the composition. SoundExchange collects performance royalties on the recording. They are two separate payments from different sources. Registration is free at soundexchange.com.
4. Copyright Registration
This is the formal registration you learned about in Section 2. While copyright protection starts the moment you create the work, registering with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you a legal record and access to higher damages if someone infringes your music.
Tip: Batch your registrations every quarter. If you release four songs over three months, file them together as a group for $65 instead of paying $45 each.
Your progress
Check each one off as you complete it. Your progress is saved in your browser.
Streaming reality check
Let's be honest about the numbers. Use the calculator below to see what streaming actually pays versus what a single church song kit sale generates.
Income Comparison Calculator
Around 100,000 new tracks reach major platforms each day. Royalties are helpful but most independent artists need an additional path to make this sustainable.
Churches are a better path for many indies
Worship ministries already spend $9 to $35 per song bundle on sites like PraiseCharts. One purchase from a single congregation can out-earn tens of thousands of streams.
Real examples
Reawaken Hymns
Shared free charts and lyric videos to build an audience, then sold hymnbooks worldwide. The free content created trust; the paid products delivered revenue.
Poor Bishop Hooper
Posted weekly Psalm songs with free charts. Listener donations now fund every tour. Consistency and generosity built a loyal community.
Charity Gayle
Released charts and stems, and her independent album reached #1 on Billboard's Christian chart because congregations were already singing the songs.
Copy and paste this license note
Include this with every chart, lyric sheet, or song kit you distribute. Click to copy it to your clipboard.
© 2025 [Your Name] Permission granted to one congregation to use this song in live services, livestreams, and on-demand replays. Please credit "[Song Title] - [Your Name]" on slides or printed material.
Next step: build and sell a song kit
A basic kit gives worship leaders everything they need to add your song to their setlist. Here is what to include:
- README with key and tempo
- Chord chart PDF
- Lyric slides
- Demo MP3 or practice stems
Price it at $15 and a single sale beats 10,000 Spotify plays. Start simple and expand later.
Need detailed help? The From Playlists to Pews eBook gives a forty-page walkthrough and ten drag-and-drop templates. Pay what you want, minimum $5.
Quick Recap
Six steps to legal protection and real income. Check them off as you go.