Under a standard record deal, who typically owns the master recording and who owns the publishing right?

Under a standard record deal, who typically owns the master recording and who owns the publishing right?

• A. Master recording owned by the label; publishing right owned or controlled by the songwriter or publisher.
• B. Master recorded owned by the songwriter; publishing rights owned by the label.
• C. Master recording owned by the artist; publishing owned by the songwriter.
• D. Both master and publishing rights are owned by the record label.

Answer: (A)

Two distinct copyrights drive this: the master recording and the publishing rights. The master recording is the actual sound recording created in the studio. In a standard record deal, the label finances, controls, and thus owns that master, licensing it for distribution and earning from its use while recouping costs from the artist’s royalties. The publishing rights, by contrast, cover the musical work—the lyrics and melody. Those rights are owned or controlled by the songwriter (or by a music publisher they work with), who licenses the song for use in recordings, performances, film/TV, etc., and collects publishing royalties. This separation—label owning the master, songwriter or publisher owning the publishing rights—fits the typical structure of a standard deal. There are variations in other deal types (e.g., bundles or 360 deals), but the described arrangement is the standard.

Two distinct copyrights drive this: the master recording and the publishing rights. The master recording is the actual sound recording created in the studio. In a standard record deal, the label finances, controls, and thus owns that master, licensing it for distribution and earning from its use while recouping costs from the artist’s royalties. The publishing rights, by contrast, cover the musical work—the lyrics and melody. Those rights are owned or controlled by the songwriter (or by a music publisher they work with), who licenses the song for use in recordings, performances, film/TV, etc., and collects publishing royalties. This separation—label owning the master, songwriter or publisher owning the publishing rights—fits the typical structure of a standard deal. There are variations in other deal types (e.g., bundles or 360 deals), but the described arrangement is the standard.