“If I play this song in public and it’s not copyrighted, isn’t there a good chance someone will steal it”?

When working with less experienced songwriters. this is one of the most common questions I hear. I encourage writers to register their copyright (which, by the way, already exists as soon as your creation is fixed in any ‘tangible form’, such as a piece of paper, a recording, etc… What you do with the Copyright Office – URL below – is register that copyright. This is what secures your rights.).

But in decades of working with and producing songwriters in the heart of the New York City music business, as well as writing, performing, and recording many songs of my own, I’ve never seen anyone have the problem of playing their song in public, live or recorded, and having one of the listeners rush home, copy the song, and then make money from it. 

I’m sure this has happened sometime somewhere, but I’ve personally never seen or heard of it.

For you, a songwriter playing your song in public, getting it stolen is probably one of the last things you need to worry about.

Getting someone to hear your song through the clutter, pay attention to it, buy it, cover it, pass it on to a friend… getting people to listen! These are far more worthy of your concern than worrying about your song being stolen.

Copyright your song, by all means. But if you haven’t done that yet, and you have an opportunity to play your song for someone… anyone – my suggestion is… do it.

If you have a successful song that makes money, it’s very possible, even likely, you’ll be sued for stealing someone else’s song, even if you didn’t. That’s the nature of the beast (money).

But someone actually stealing your song… possible… but highly unlikely.

ps  I’m not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Just my own experience and observations..

http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

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