Casey Rae - Music Copyright: An Essential Guide for the Digital Age

A2IM American Association of Independent Music

AFM American Federation of Musicians

ASCAP American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

BMI Broadcast Music Incorporated

CASE Act Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act

CRB Copyright Royalty Board

DMCA Digital Millennium Copyright Act

DNS Domain Name Server

DOJ Department of Justice

DPRA Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act

DRM Digital Rights Management

DSP Digital Service Provider

eCO Electronic Copyright Office

EMI Electrical and Musical Industries

GMR Global Music Rights

HFA Harry Fox Agency

ICE Immigrations and Customs Enforcement

IFPI International Federation of the Phonographic Industry

LOC Library of Congress

MLC Mechanical Licensing Collective

MMA Music Modernization Act

MVD Minimum Viable Data

NMPA National Music Publishers Association

NOI Notice of Intent

PRO Performance Rights Organization

RIAA Recording Industry Association of America

SACD Socit des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques

SACEM Socit des auteurs, compositeurs et diteurs de musique

SAG-AFTRA Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists

SESAC Society of European Stage Authors and Composers

SOPA Stop Online Piracy Act

USCO U.S. Copyright Office

Casey Rae is an author, professor, musician, and music business professional based in Vancouver, Washington. As director of music licensing for SiriusXM, he oversees the licensing of audio for transmission across the companys services. Previously, Casey served as the CEO of the Future of Music Coalition, a Washington, DCbased education and advocacy organization for musicians and composers. He has authored and teaches courses at Georgetown University and Berklee College of Music on copyright, digital disruption, and media policy. Casey regularly speaks on issues such as emerging business models, creators rights, technology policy, and intellectual property at worldwide conferences, universities, and in the media. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on copyright matters and has written hundreds of articles on the impact of technology on the music community in scholarly journals and other publications. His book William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock n Roll, an exploration of the Beat writers impact on music culture, has been translated into four languages across six editions. Casey serves on the board of the Alliance for Media Arts and Culture and the MHz Foundation and is the proud dad of two talented daughters.

Americana Music Association (AMA): Trade organization representing the American roots music community, https://americanamusic.org/.

American Association of Independent Music (A2IM): Represents the interests of independent labels, https://a2im.org/.

American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Union representing musicians, https://www.afm.org/.

Artist Rights Alliance (ARA): Music creator advocacy group, https://artistrightsalliance.org/.

Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP): Represents the interests of independent music publishers, https://www.aimp.org/.

Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA): Trade organization representing the Christian music community, http://www.cmta.biz/.

Church Music Publishers Association (CMPA): Represents the interests of Christian music publishers, https://cmpamusic.org/.

Country Music Association (CMA): Trade organization representing country music, https://www.cmaworld.com/.

Future of Music Coalition (FMC): Music creator advocacy group, http://futureofmusic.org/.

Gospel Music Association (GMA): Represents the interests of the gospel music community, https://gospelmusic.org/.

International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA): Represents the interests of the bluegrass music community worldwide, https://ibma.org/.

Music Artists Coalition (MAC): Music creator advocacy group, https://www.musicartistscoalition.com/.

Music Business Association (Music Biz): Music commerce membership body, https://musicbiz.org/.

Music Managers Forum USA (MMF): Represents the interests of U.S. music managers, https://www.mmfus.com/.

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI): Songwriter advocacy group, https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/.

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS): Music industry trade association that hosts the Grammys, https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy.

National Music Publishers Association (NMPA): Represents the interests of major music publishers, https://www.nmpa.org/.

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): Represents the interests of major labels, https://www.riaa.com/.

Rhythm and Blues Foundation: Represents the interests of the soul and R&B music community, https://www.rhythmandbluesfoundation.org/.

Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA (SAG-AFTRA): Union representing film and television performers and background singers, https://www.sagaftra.org/.

Songwriters Guild of America (SGA): Songwriter advocacy group, https://www.songwritersguild.com/.

Songwriters of North America (SONA): Songwriter advocacy group, https://www.wearesona.com/.

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP): Government-regulated music publishing performance rights society, https://www.ascap.com/.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI): Government-regulated music publishing performance rights society, https://www.bmi.com/.

Global Music Rights (GMR): Private music publishing performance rights society, https://globalmusicrights.com/.

Harry Fox Agency: Private mechanical licensing society owned by SESAC, https://www.harryfox.com/.

Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC): Government-regulated mechanical royalties society, https://www.themlc.com/.

SESAC: Private music publishing performance rights society, https://www.sesac.com/.

SoundExchange: Collection society for the digital public performance right in sound recordings, https://www.soundexchange.com/.

Copyright Royalty Board (CRB): Judicial panel that sets rates for mechanical royalties and the digital public performance of sound recordings, https://www.crb.gov/.

Library of Congress (LOC): Official library of the legislative branch that houses the Copyright Office, https://www.loc.gov/.

U.S. Congress: Establishes Americas copyright laws, https://www.congress.gov/.

U.S. Copyright Office (USCO): Official copyright registration and recordation body that advises Congress and the public on copyright matters and sets rules for copyright under statutory mandate, https://www.copyright.gov/.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Among other things, oversees ASCAP and BMI consent decrees, https://www.justice.gov/.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization (USPTO): Official registration and recordation body for patents and trademarks that engages on copyright matters in coordination with the USCO, https://www.uspto.gov/.

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): Represents Americas trade interests and negotiates international treaties (including intellectual property), https://ustr.gov/.

M ost musicians and songwriters have a sense that copyright is important, but few understand why. Understanding the basics of copyright will enable you to make informed decisions, protect your expression, and hopefully earn money from others enjoyment of your work. Before we dive into the specific aspects of how music copyright functions in the everyday world of creativity and commerce, its important to zero in on what copyright is and, equally importantly, what it is not.