Locate the copyright year on the album itself. Normally, this information will appear both on the compact disc (or record or tape) and in the accompanying booklet. The copyright year will list the year the album was recorded and the person who obtained a copyright for the songs.
Search public records for a copyright year. This is useful when the album itself cannot be located or the information is illegible. In addition to searching on the Internet, you can contact the U.S. Copyright Office directly to find out who owns a copyright.
Check the sheet music for a copyright year. Most popular songs are licensed to be reproduced as sheet music so people can learn to play the song. The sheet music always will include both the copyright holder and the year the copyright was issued.
Contact the copyright owner for specific details. Once you find the owner of a copyright for a specific song, you might wish to contact that entity to find out when the song was written.