Music Law and Licensing
Expert-defined terms from the Certificate in Entertainment Law course at UK School of Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Music Law and Licensing Glossary #
Music Law and Licensing Glossary
A #
A
Artist Agreement #
An agreement between an artist and a record label, manager, or agent that outlines the terms of the relationship, such as compensation, royalties, and ownership rights.
B #
B
Copyright #
Legal protection for original works of authorship, including music, that gives the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and perform the work.
Compulsory License #
A license that allows a person or entity to use a copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright owner, as long as they pay a set fee.
C #
C
Clearance #
The process of obtaining permission to use copyrighted material in a film, TV show, or other audiovisual work.
Derivative Work #
A new work based on a pre-existing work, such as a remix or cover version of a song.
D #
D
Distribution Agreement #
An agreement between a record label and a distributor outlining the terms of how the label's music will be distributed to retailers and consumers.
E #
E
Exclusive License #
A license that grants one person or entity the exclusive right to use a copyrighted work, typically for a specified period of time.
F #
F
Fair Use #
A legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
G #
G
Grand Rights #
The rights to perform a dramatic work, such as a musical or opera, in a live theatrical setting.
H #
H
Harry Fox Agency #
An agency that licenses mechanical rights for music publishers and songwriters in the United States.
I #
I
Intellectual Property #
Creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, that are protected by copyright, trademark, or patent laws.
J #
J
Joint Work #
A work created by two or more authors who intend to merge their contributions into a single work.
K #
K
Key Man Clause #
A clause in a contract that allows one party to terminate the agreement if a key person involved in the deal leaves the company.
L #
L
Licensing #
The process of granting permission to use a copyrighted work in exchange for a fee or royalty.
M #
M
Master Use License #
A license that allows the use of a specific recording of a song in a film, TV show, commercial, or other audiovisual work.
Musician's Union #
An organization that represents musicians and negotiates collective bargaining agreements with employers, such as record labels and concert venues.
N #
N
Neighboring Rights #
Rights related to the public performance and broadcast of sound recordings, separate from the rights of the underlying musical composition.
O #
O
Ownership #
The legal right to control, use, and profit from a work of music, including the copyright in the composition and the master recording.
P #
P
Performance Rights Organization (PRO) #
An organization that licenses public performances of music and collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers.
Public Domain #
Works that are not protected by copyright and can be freely used by anyone, typically because the copyright has expired.
Q #
Q
Quid Pro Quo #
Something given in exchange for something else, such as a license to use a copyrighted work in exchange for payment.
R #
R
Recording Contract #
An agreement between a recording artist and a record label that governs the recording, distribution, and promotion of the artist's music.
Remix #
A new version of a song created by recombining or altering the original recording.
S #
S
Synchronization License #
A license that allows the use of a musical work in synchronization with visual media, such as a film, TV show, or commercial.
T #
T
Termination Rights #
The right of an author or creator to terminate a copyright license or assignment after a certain period of time.
U #
U
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) #
A set of laws that govern commercial transactions, including the sale of goods, leases, and secured transactions.
V #
V
Work for Hire #
A work created by an employee within the scope of their employment, where the employer owns the copyright instead of the employee.
W #
W
X #
X
XML Metadata #
Extensible Markup Language (XML) used to describe and exchange information about music works, recordings, and rights data.
Y #
Y
YouTube Content ID #
A digital fingerprinting system that allows copyright owners to identify and manage their content on YouTube, including monetizing user-uploaded videos that contain their music.
Z #
Z
Zoning Laws #
Laws that regulate where certain activities, such as live music performances, can take place within a community to prevent noise complaints and other issues.