Music copyright grants ownership of a song to a songwriter. Only a copyright owner can allow his music to be produced by another artist, performed in public and or used in derivative works.
A music copyright is valid from the time it is fixed to a copy, such as when it is recorded, to up to 70 years after the death of the author.
To register a music copyright in the United States, a songwriter needs to submit a completed application, registration fee and a copy of the music to the U.S. Copyright Office. Songwriters can accomplish this via mail or the Copyright Office's Electronic Copyright Office.