How to Protect Your Music: Copyright Checklist for Indie Artists

Patrick Amunson
Jun 10
2 min read

Updated: Sep 16

Whether you’re dropping your first single or building out a full album, protecting your music properly isn’t just a best practice — it’s essential. But here’s a detail many artists overlook:

Registering your song once is not enough.

To fully secure your rights — and collect every royalty you’re entitled to — you need to register two separate copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office:

One for the musical work (your composition: lyrics, melody, chord progressions)
One for the sound recording (your actual recorded performance, aka the master)

This guide breaks down the difference between the two, why both matter, and how to register them step by step.

Understanding Copyrights for Musicians

The Importance of Copyright Registration

For independent artists, copyright registration is crucial. It ensures that your creative work is legally protected. Without it, you risk losing control over your music. This can lead to unauthorized use, which can affect your income and reputation.

The Difference: Musical Work vs. Sound Recording

Aspect	What it Protects	Registration Form	Who Usually Files
🎼 Musical Work	The song itself: lyrics, melody, chord structure	Form PA	Songwriter / Publisher
🎧 Sound Recording	The recorded performance of that song	Form SR	Artist / Label / Producer

Registering the sound recording (Form SR) only protects the master — the version people stream or hear on the record. It does not automatically protect the songwriting, which lives in the musical work (Form PA).

Why Registering Both Matters

Protecting Your Rights

Let’s say you wrote and recorded a song called “Down.” You register the SR (sound recording) — great. Now you control the use of your master. But what happens if:

Someone covers your song?
A brand uses your lyrics or melody?
You want to sign a publishing deal?
You need to collect mechanical royalties or PRO payouts?

Unless you’ve registered the musical work, you don’t fully own or control those rights. This can lead to lost opportunities and revenue.

The Risks of Not Registering

Failing to register both copyrights can leave you vulnerable. Without proper registration, you may face challenges in enforcing your rights. This can result in unauthorized use of your music, which can harm your career.

When You Can Register Both with One Form (But Be Careful)

Conditions for Using One Form

If all of the following are true:

You wrote the song
You recorded and produced it yourself
You own 100% of both the master and the composition
You’re submitting the same audio file as proof

Then you can file just Form SR and check the box saying it includes the underlying musical work.

Caution for Solo Artists

This is only recommended if you’re a solo artist looking to save on filing fees. It’s legal — but less flexible if you’re pitching for sync, doing splits, or working with collaborators later.

Copyright Registration Checklist (Free Download)

This quick-start checklist walks you through:

What you need to prepare for each form
Where to register and what to upload
Cost breakdown
Special notes for indie artists

Click below to download the free PDF and make sure your music is fully protected from day one.