- Strictly speaking, a copyright is granted the moment a demo is recorded. A vocalist will have trouble proving the demo is hers, however, if she does not register the recording with the U.S. Copyright Office.
- There are three copyrightable aspects to any recorded work: the lyrics, the music and the performance. A vocalist recording a demo is typically using the lyrics and musical composition of other people, and therefore, she is only able to copyright the performance.
- Copyrighting a demo performance allows a vocalist to use a copyright symbol for sound recordings (the letter P in a circle). A vocalist may distribute his copyrighted demo for audition purposes, but may not sell it unless a license has been secured for the copyrighted songs on the recording.
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The Harry Fox Agency sells distribution rights to many published songs. Some writers and composers apply Creative Commons licenses to their work; most of these licenses allow the vocalist to use the music for free, but place restrictions on how the recordings may be used. If the vocalist knows the writer/composer, he may obtain a license for use directly from that person.
Some songs have passed into the public domain, which means a copyright no longer applies to them. Typically this occurs 70 years after the death of the writer or composer, whoever died later, but vocalists should verify with the U.S. Copyright office to ensure the copyright on a song has not been passed to the original copyright holder's estate. - As of August 1, 2009, the fee for online registration is $35. The vocalist may upload her demo to the Copyright Office in one of the following formats: .aif, .aiff, .au, .mid, .midi, .rmi, .mp3, .ra, .ram, .wav or .wma. She must use Real Player 6 or earlier for .ra and .ram files. She must also file Fill-In Form CO.
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Mike Murry / Creative CommonsFor mail-in registration, a vocalist may fill out Form CO or Form SR (Form CO may be be used as a replacement for four different forms), and mail the form, along with two copies of the demo on phonograph record, audio cassette or CD, and payment to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
Through July 31, 2009, the fee for filing either Form CO or Form SR is $45. Beginning August 1, 2009, the fee for filing Form CO by mail will be $50, while the fee for Form SR will be $65.
