Lesson 1: Foundations — Owning Your Work

Learn how to copyright your music, lyrics, and artwork step by step so you own your creations and protect your catalog.

Before you can truly stand on your own as an independent artist, you have to build on a solid foundation. That foundation is ownership. Too many artists rush to release music without realizing that the moment they put it out into the world, it can be claimed, copied, or monetized by someone else if they haven’t secured their rights. Luckily for me, I have never had to learned this the hard way.

I’ve been an artist since my early childhood, inspired by parents who nourish my love for art and music. I started drawing first, encouraged by my dad, who would always make sure I had a new sketchbook ready once I had filled the last page with my art. It was my father who taught me about copyrighting my artwork. I think I was twelve years old when he took me to the library, a weekly thing we did together. He taught me that registering my artwork with the U.S. Copyright Office gave me something priceless: proof of ownership that no one could take away.

When I began producing music, I decided to copyright my work first—before shopping it to labels, before uploading it to distributors, before anyone else touched it. By doing so, it allowed me to establish legal proof of what I created. I knew that if there was ever a dispute, I could show an official record to back me up.

As a multidisciplinary artist and musician, I handle every stage of the creative process. From writing and producing the music, to crafting the lyrics, to designing the original artwork, I shape each element so the message of my work is expressed as one unified story—through sound, words, and visuals. When I am ready for the copyright process, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all form to fill out. Let me explain.

Copyright protects original works of authorship. For musicians, that means:

• Lyrics (the words to your song)
• Composition (the melody, chords, and arrangement)
• Sound Recording (the master recording of your performance)
• Artwork (album covers, visuals, etc.)

Each of these is a separate copyrightable work; therefore, it is essential to choose the correct form when filing your copyright.

A PA (Performing Arts) registration protects the underlying musical composition, including both the words and melody, while an SR (Sound Recording) registration safeguards the actual audio recording itself. If you are the owner of both the song and the recording, an SR claim can be filed to cover both elements together. Additionally, a VA (Visual Arts) registration protects artwork, such as cover designs, ensuring that the visual identity of your music is also legally secured.

If you are serious about your music, here’s what you need to do today:

1. Finish your song — lyrics, music, recording.
2. File it with the Copyright Office (or your local equivalent). In the U.S., that means registering at copyright.gov.
3. Keep your receipts and confirmation. That’s your shield.
4. Document your split sheets if you collaborated with others, so everyone’s share is clear and registered correctly.

Let’s walk through the process together.

Step 1: Understand What You Can Copyright

Copyright protects original works of authorship. For us musicians, that means:

• Lyrics (the words to your song)
• Composition (the melody, chords, and arrangement)
• Sound Recording (the master recording of your performance)
• Artwork (album covers, visuals, etc.)

Each of these is a separate copyrightable work.

Step 2: Create an Account

• Go to copyright.gov.
• Create an account with the eCO system (Electronic Copyright Office).
• Here is where you’ll manage all future registrations.

Step 3: Choose the Correct Application

• PA (Performing Arts Work): Protects the underlying musical composition 9words and melody)
• SR (Sound Recording): Protects the actual audio recording. If you own both the song and the recording, the SR claim can cover both.
• VA (Visual Arts): Protects artwork, such as your cover designs.

ZOOLOOK Tip: You can use group registrations to save time and money:

• A group of unpublished works (multiple songs at once).
• A group of published works released together (like an album).

Step 4: Fill Out the Form

You’ll need:

• Title of the work(s)
• Year of completion & publication date (if released)
• Author(s) and claimant(s) (usually you)
• Upload of the deposit (your MP3, lyric sheet, or artwork file)

Step 5: Pay the Fee and Submit

• Each application has a one-time fee ($65.00 USD).
• Once submitted, you’ll get a case number and later, a certificate of registration.

This is how your songs get officially recognized in the royalty system.

Lesson 1 Recap

By the end of these steps, you should:

1. Have an eCO account at copyright.gov.
2. Know the difference between PA, SR, and VA registrations.
3. Register your first works (lyrics, recordings, artwork).
4. Keep your certificates safe — they are your proof of ownership in court.

Here’s what I learned: once I started registering my works with the U.S. Copyright Office, I was able to prove ownership, protect my catalog, claim my publishing rights, and stop others from exploiting my creations without permission.

Some distributors may ask you to confirm that the music you’re uploading is genuinely yours. This is where a copyright certificate becomes powerful—it acts as undeniable proof of ownership, strengthening your submission and protecting your work.

#TheChroniclesOfZOOLOOK #Copyright #FormPA #FormSR #FormVA

More from ZOOLOOK

NOTE: To register, click on the link (If you are a new user, click here to register.) inside the USER LOGIN Box.

You can do this!

Next Week: Lesson 2: Registering with a PRO + The MLC

Register with SoundExchange to collect digital performance royalties from SiriusXM, Pandora, and other Internet Radio services.