How to Make Money with Your Music Copyrights from Coursera

If you want to learn how to make a living with your music, this is the course for you. How to Make Money with Your Music Copyrights will provide an overview of basic copyright principles and their relationship to music publishing as well as the primary revenue streams available to independent songwriters and artists.

Taught by the experienced entertainment attorney and record label executive turned Berklee instructor, Professor Tonya Butler J.D., LL.M., you will learn how to utilize the different copyrights available in the US copyright law for musical works in order to access the four primary revenue streams.

You will start by learning the basics of US copyright law and the difference between a musical work and a sound recording. Then, you will learn about the four primary revenue streams and hear from industry professionals and their tips on achieving success in the music industry. Finally, you will learn how music artists can make money as the owners of their own sound recordings. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of the different ways and the various organizations that can help you get paid for your music.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to the Course!

Welcome to the course! In this first module, we will cover all of the details about this course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Lesson 1: What is Copyright?

In this lesson we will begin with the basics of music copyright law and how your money is directly connected to the ownership of your copyrights. We will also take a look at music publishing and the four primary sources of revenue for songwriters.

Lesson 2: Mechanical and Print Income

In this lesson, we will discuss the definition of a mechanical reproduction, how to obtain a mechanical license, and the various ways to generate mechanical royalties.

Lesson 3: Public Performance Income

In this lesson we will discuss the role of performing rights organizations and how they collect public performance royalties. We will also dive into making money by writing for movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Lesson 4: Artists Ownership of Master/Sound Recordings

In this final lesson, we will shift our focus from songwriters to artists. We will talk about the differences between being a songwriter vs. an artist and how artists get paid from the ownership of their master recording copyrights.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Tonya Butler, an entertainment attorney, record label executive, and Berklee instructor with real-world experience in the music industry

Provides a comprehensive overview of basic copyright principles and their relationship to music publishing

Outlines the four primary revenue streams available to independent songwriters and artists

Features insights and tips from industry professionals on achieving success in the music industry

Covers the differences between a musical work and a sound recording, clarifying copyright ownership for artists

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Make Money with Your Music Copyrights with these activities:

Review Copyright Fundamentals

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Brush up on the basics of copyright law to strengthen your understanding of the course materials.

Browse courses on Copyright

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Read through a comprehensive guide to copyright law.
Summarize the key concepts of copyright law in your own words.

Review copyright basics

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Ensure a foundational understanding of copyright principles to better appreciate their relationship to music publishing and revenue streams.

Browse courses on Copyright Law

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Re-read course materials on copyright law
Summarize the key points of each lesson
Create a mind map or diagram connecting different aspects of copyright

Identify different types of copyrights

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Practice identifying the different types of copyrights that are available for musical works.

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Review the different types of copyrights that are available for musical works.
Complete a worksheet or quiz that requires you to identify different types of copyrights.
Create a table or chart that summarizes the different types of copyrights and their requirements.

One other activity

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Identify types of copyrights

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Solidify understanding of different types of copyrights available for musical works to better navigate the music industry.

Browse courses on Copyright Law

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Gather examples of musical works and sound recordings
Analyze each example and determine the type of copyright it falls under
Create a table or spreadsheet summarizing the findings

Career center

Learners who complete How to Make Money with Your Music Copyrights will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Copyright Lawyer

This course provides the fundamentals needed to become a copyright lawyer who deals with music copyright. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding musical works in the US. It will also provide insights into how these are applied in the music industry and how to protect your copyrights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Copyright Lawyer

Music Publishing Administrator

This course provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to become a music publishing administrator. It will help build a foundation concerning the administration of music copyrights, licensing, and royalties. You will learn how to manage the rights of songwriters and publishers, as well as how to negotiate and enforce music publishing agreements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Publishing Administrator

Music Copyright Manager

This course provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to become a music copyright manager. It will help build a strong foundation in managing music copyrights, including understanding the different types of copyrights, how to register and protect them, and how to enforce them in case of infringement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Copyright Manager

Music Business Manager

This course provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to become a music business manager. It will help build a foundation concerning the business side of the music industry, including copyright management, contracts, and negotiations. It will also provide insights into how to manage the career of a musician or band, and how to develop and implement marketing and promotion strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Business Manager

Intellectual Property Lawyer

This course may be useful for those who want to become intellectual property lawyers who specialize in music copyright. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding intellectual property, including copyright, trademark, and patent law. It will also provide insights into how these are applied in the music industry and how to protect intellectual property rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Intellectual Property Lawyer

Music Licensing Manager

This course provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to become a music licensing manager. It will help build a foundation concerning the licensing of music copyrights, including understanding the different types of licenses, how to negotiate and enforce them, and how to manage the royalties generated from licensing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Licensing Manager

Music Publisher

This course may be useful for those who want to become music publishers. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright and publishing, as well as the different revenue streams available to songwriters and artists. It will also provide insights into how to manage the rights of songwriters and publishers, and how to negotiate and enforce music publishing agreements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Publisher

Songwriter

This course may be useful for those who want to become songwriters. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to songwriters. It will also provide insights into how to protect your copyrights and how to negotiate and enforce music publishing agreements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Music Marketing Manager

This course may be useful for those who want to become music marketing managers. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to songwriters and artists. It will also provide insights into how to develop and implement marketing and promotion strategies for musicians and bands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Marketing Manager

Music Artist Manager

This course may be useful for those who want to become music artist managers. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to artists. It will also provide insights into how to manage the career of a musician or band, and how to develop and implement marketing and promotion strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Artist Manager

Music Record Producer

This course may be useful for those who want to become music record producers. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to artists. It will also provide insights into how to produce and record music, and how to manage the production process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Record Producer

Music Journalist

This course may be useful for those who want to become music journalists. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to musicians and artists. It will also provide insights into how to write and report on music, and how to interview musicians and artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Music Educator

This course may be useful for those who want to become music educators. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to musicians and artists. It will also provide insights into how to teach music, and how to develop and implement music education programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Music Therapist

This course may be useful for those who want to become music therapists. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to musicians and artists. It will also provide insights into how to use music to help people improve their physical and mental health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Music Librarian

This course may be useful for those who want to become music librarians. It will help build a foundation on the concepts and laws surrounding music copyright, as well as the different revenue streams available to musicians and artists. It will also provide insights into how to manage and organize music collections, and how to provide access to music resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Librarian

How to Make Money with Your Music Copyrights

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