Music Copyright: An Essential Guide for the Digital Age

by Casey Rae

Overview

Today’s music marketplace is more complex than any previous era. It’s easy to feel paralyzed by the plethora of digital services and business models, to say nothing of corresponding revenue streams—all of which are established by copyright. In simple and easy-to-read language, Music Copyright: An Essential Guide for the Digital Age takes readers step-by-step through the world of music copyright, imparting tools to navigate this intricate system. Casey Rae demystifies the laws, business practices, and trends that enable—and sometimes frustrate—a rapidly evolving industry and empowers music creators, managers, and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.

Learn about the exclusive rights attached to expressive works and how they correspond to different roles and royalties within the music marketplace. The book provides:

• information on protecting and registering copyrights
• an explanation of recent developments in the courts and Congress pertaining to music copyright law
• valuable strategies for music licensing
• information on how to sign up for royalty collection societies and an array of other useful organizations and services

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538104835
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2021
Pages:	178
Product dimensions:	6.31(w) x 8.99(h) x 0.64(d)

About the Author

Casey Rae is an author, professor, musician, and music business executive. As director of music licensing for SiriusXM, he oversees the direct licensing of sound recordings across the company’s services. Previously, Rae served as the CEO of the Future of Music Coalition. He has taught music industry courses at Georgetown University and Berklee College of Music and has testified before the United States Congress on copyright matters.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: Getting Familiar with Music Copyright

Chapter Two: A Brief History of Music Copyright

Chapter Three: Digital Music and the Evolution of an Industry

Chapter Four: Musical Works and Copyright Exclusivities

Chapter Five: Sound Recordings and Copyright Exclusivities

Chapter Six: Copyright Enforcement, Safe Harbors, and Fair Use

Chapter Seven: Copyright Registration, Metadata, and Databases

Chapter Eight: Music Licensing: PR's, Publishing Administration, Synchronizations, and More

Final Thoughts: Music Copyright and the Big Picture

Appendix A

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Ray set out with the daunting task of bringing awareness to copyright issues and educating those in the music industry about how copyright interacts with the modern world. At times, it is impossible to avoid the complexities and the confusion that may arise, but Ray successfully lays the groundwork for a better understanding of these issues. A second read-through may be beneficial, as there is simply such a large quantity of information that could be overwhelming for readers who are novices to the logistics of copyright. Even if readers are not members of the music industry, there is still much to be gleaned from this book. Something relevant to everyone exists between these pages, whether the reader is seasoned in copyright laws and licenses or just starting their journey in comprehending how copyright laws operate in society today.

Music Reference Services Quarterly

This is a highly readable text that provides an excellent, state-of-the-art foundation for musicians or aspiring professionals interested in gaining a deeper understanding of music copyright. I’m not aware of a more accessible, thorough, and timely resource.

John Strohm

Casey Rae’s Music Copyright is a must-have reference for any musician or music teacher and anyone who engages with music, e.g., skaters who use music in performance or competition. Rae’s experience as an author, a professor, a musician, and especially a music business professional and licensing specialist qualifies him to offer advice in the ever-developing world of copyright. The book's layout is outstanding and well served by an extraordinarily detailed table of contents. An appendix lists industry and music creator organizations; performing rights and mechanical royalty collectives; and legislative, regulatory, and rate-setting bodies. Rae, who has taught widely and is currently director of music licensing for SiriusXM, provides practical advice about the laws for digital music, public performance, recordings, fair use, registration, licensing, publishing, podcasts and music collections, and—of utmost importance—reform and barriers to change. The book will certainly help musicians keep up-to-date on the ever-changing social media used in all walks of life. Highly recommended. All readership levels.

Choice

A comprehensive, practical and eminently readable resource for anyone wanting to fully understand the complexities of copyright law in modern times— it’s exactly what it claims to be: an essential guide for the digital age.

Bertis Downs

Casey Rae’s Music Copyright is a must-have reference for any musician or music teacher and anyone who engages with music, e.g., skaters who use music in performance or competition. Rae’s experience as an author, a professor, a musician, and especially a music business professional and licensing specialist qualifies him to offer advice in the ever-developing world of copyright. The book's layout is outstanding and well served by an extraordinarily detailed table of contents. An appendix lists industry and music creator organizations; performing rights and mechanical royalty collectives; and legislative, regulatory, and rate-setting bodies. Rae, who has taught widely and is currently director of music licensing for SiriusXM, provides practical advice about the laws for digital music, public performance, recordings, fair use, registration, licensing, publishing, podcasts and music collections, and—of utmost importance—reform and barriers to change. The book will certainly help musicians keep up-to-date on the ever-changing social media used in all walks of life. Highly recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

For years I’ve bugged Casey with questions related to copyright. After reading his wonderfully informative book, I’m now a Certified Copyright Ninja™ like him!

John E. Seay

A comprehensive, practical and eminently readable resource for anyone wanting to fully understand the complexities of copyright law in modern times-- it's exactly what it claims to be: an essential guide for the digital age.

Casey Rae's Music Copyright is a must-have reference for any musician or music teacher and anyone who engages with music, e.g., skaters who use music in performance or competition. Rae's experience as an author, a professor, a musician, and especially a music business professional and licensing specialist qualifies him to offer advice in the ever-developing world of copyright. The book's layout is outstanding and well served by an extraordinarily detailed table of contents. An appendix lists industry and music creator organizations; performing rights and mechanical royalty collectives; and legislative, regulatory, and rate-setting bodies. Rae, who has taught widely and is currently director of music licensing for SiriusXM, provides practical advice about the laws for digital music, public performance, recordings, fair use, registration, licensing, publishing, podcasts and music collections, and--of utmost importance--reform and barriers to change. The book will certainly help musicians keep up-to-date on the ever-changing social media used in all walks of life. Highly recommended. All readership levels.

For years I've bugged Casey with questions related to copyright. After reading his wonderfully informative book, I'm now a Certified Copyright Ninja(TM) like him!

This is a highly readable text that provides an excellent, state-of-the-art foundation for musicians or aspiring professionals interested in gaining a deeper understanding of music copyright. I'm not aware of a more accessible, thorough, and timely resource.

From the Publisher