Guide
How to copyright a song in the US: what's automatic and what to register
You don't have to do anything for copyright to start. Protection begins when your song is fixed in a tangible form, such as a recording or written lyrics. Registering is a separate, voluntary step that gives you a public record and more options if someone copies your work. This guide covers the US and isn't legal advice.
Updated November 2, 2026
Short answer
In the US, your song is protected by copyright as soon as you record it or write it down. To register it, apply online with the US Copyright Office and upload a copy. The fee is $45 for one work by a single author who owns it, and $65 for a standard application. Registration is voluntary, but you need it before you can sue for infringement of a US work.
What to do, in order
Work out what you own
A song and its recording are two separate copyrights. List who wrote the music and lyrics, who owns the recording, and whether a producer, beat or sample has its own terms. Get anything shared in writing.
Choose the right application
Use the table below. A single song by one owner may fit the $45 application. Co-written work usually needs the $65 standard one. Songs from one album may fit a group application.
Apply online
File through the Copyright Office's electronic system at copyright.gov. Online filing costs less than the $125 paper form.
Upload your copy
For unpublished music or music released only digitally, the Office strongly encourages uploading a digital file. Physical releases such as CDs or LPs can have different rules, so check before you send anything.
Keep your records together
Save your certificate with your split sheet, session files, and your release's UPC and ISRCs. If someone uploads your song, these are what you'll be asked for.
A song and a recording are separate
The musical work is the song itself: the music and any lyrics. The sound recording is one recorded performance of it. They can have different owners, for example when you write a song and a label owns the master.
One standard application can cover both when they're on the same recording and have the same claimant. If the owners differ, or you're using a group album application, they need separate applications.
Which application to use
These are the US Copyright Office's published fees. Check the rules on its site before filing, because a claim on the wrong application can be refused.
| Application | Fee | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Single Application | $45 | One work by one author who is the sole owner, not made for hire. To cover a song and its recording together, the author must also be the only performer. |
| Standard Application | $65 | Most other cases, filed online. |
| Works on an album (GRAM) | $65 | 2 to 20 songs, or 2 to 20 recordings, first published on one album. Songs and recordings need separate applications. |
| Paper forms | $125 | Filing on paper instead of online. |
Fees checked on copyright.gov on 2 November 2026.
Why register if copyright is automatic
Registration puts your claim on the public record and gets you a certificate. For a US work, you need it before you can sue for infringement.
- Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in a successful lawsuit.
- If you register within five years of publication, the registration counts as evidence for your claim in court.
What doesn't count
Mailing a copy to yourself, often called a poor man's copyright, isn't a replacement for registering. The Copyright Office says the law has no provision for it.
Uploading through a distributor isn't copyright registration either. Neither is joining ASCAP or BMI, which is about collecting performance royalties.
How Traxure helps
A registration proves your claim, but it won't tell you when something changes on a streaming service. Traxure watches your releases: it checks your Spotify profile every 12 hours and your full catalog every day, and it also checks Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL, SoundCloud and Pandora. If a release stops showing or an unexpected one appears on your profile, you get an email with the details. Traxure doesn't file claims or send notices for you. Monitoring starts with a seven-day free trial.
Questions artists ask
Do I have to register a song to own the copyright?
No. Copyright protection starts when the song is fixed in a tangible form. Registration is voluntary, but you need it before you can sue for infringement of a US work.
How much does it cost to copyright a song?
Copyright itself is automatic and free. Registering costs $45 for an eligible single work, $65 for a standard application and $65 for a group of works from one album. Paper forms cost $125.
Is a poor man's copyright real?
Mailing a copy to yourself doesn't replace registration. The Copyright Office says the law has no provision for that kind of protection.
Can I register a whole album at once?
You can register 2 to 20 songs or 2 to 20 recordings from one album with one group application. Songs and recordings need separate applications, and every work needs the same author or a common joint author, and the same claimant.
Should I register before releasing the song?
You can register before or after. If you register within five years of publication, the registration counts as evidence in court. If a real dispute is likely, ask a music lawyer about your timing.
Sources
Traxure
Know the same day, not weeks later.
Traxure checks your releases on Spotify and other platforms around the clock, confirms a change before alerting you and tells you what to do next. Seven-day free trial.
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