How do you copyright your music in the UK?
By the HyperTribe team. Reviewed by Kimberly, founder. Updated .
You don't have to do anything. In the UK, copyright comes automatically the moment you write a song down or record it, and it's free. There's no form, no fee and no official register to join. The government's own guidance says there is no register of copyright works in the UK.
What you do need is proof that it's yours, and paper that says who else owns a share. In our experience that second part is where artists actually lose money. When we went through the rights paperwork of artists we work with this October, for most of them we couldn't find a written split for a co-write or terms with their producer.
What does copyright cover in your music?
There are two separate copyrights in every release, and they can belong to different people.
| What it is | Who owns it at the start | How long it lasts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The song | The music and the words, as written | Whoever wrote them, in the shares they agree | 70 years after the death of the last writer |
| The recording | One particular recording of the song, the master | Whoever made the arrangements for the recording to be made | 70 years from when it's first released |
So if you write a song and pay for a studio session, you'll usually own both. If you co-write with someone, you share the song. If a producer makes the track in their own room, on their own time, and you pay nothing, the recording could be theirs. That's why the split sheet matters more than any register.
Do you need to register your music anywhere?
Not to get copyright. You already have it.
There are registrations you'll want, but they're about getting paid. You own the song either way:
- PRS for Music for the song, so the writers' share reaches you when it's performed, broadcast or streamed.
- PPL for the recording, so the performers and the owner are paid when it's played in public or on radio.
- Your distributor for the release, which gives each recording its code and puts a public release date on it.
Each one also leaves a dated record of who wrote or owns what, which helps if a question ever comes up. Which of them fit you depends on what you make and whether it's out yet. Our free PRS and PPL checker, linked at the end of this page, tells you which apply now and which can wait.
Should you pay a site to register your copyright?
There's no official UK register, so a site charging you to "register your copyright" isn't giving you a right you don't already have. At most it's a dated record of a file, and you can make your own for free. Spend the money on the release instead.
How do you prove a song is yours?
Keep a dated trail from the first idea to the release. These four cost nothing:
- The early versions. Voice notes, demos and project files, with their dates. Don't delete the first rough version of a song; it's your earliest evidence.
- The lyrics, dated. A note, a document or a page with the date on it, saved somewhere that keeps its own history.
- A split sheet for every co-write and every producer. Who wrote what share of the song, and who owns the recording, signed by everyone on the day you finish it. This is the one most artists skip.
- The emails and messages. Sending a demo to a collaborator, a producer or a label leaves a dated record of who had it and when.
None of these creates copyright. They help show who wrote what, and when, if anyone ever asks. Posting a sealed copy to yourself is often suggested; a dated digital trail and a signed split sheet usually say more.
What should you do if someone uses your music without permission?
Gather your dated trail first: the earliest version, the lyrics and any split sheet. Then get advice before you do anything public. A music lawyer can tell you where you stand, and the Musicians' Union gives legal help to its members. This page is general information about how UK copyright works, not legal advice on your situation.
What about samples, covers and beats you've bought?
- Samples. Using part of someone else's recording needs permission from both the owner of the recording and the owners of the song. Clear it before release.
- Covers. Recording someone else's song is a different question from owning one. Your recording of it is yours; the song stays theirs, and its writers are paid through the usual royalty routes. Check your distributor's rules for covers before you upload.
- Bought or leased beats. The licence you agreed to says what you can do with the beat and who owns what. Read it before release, and keep a copy with your split sheet.
Where this fits
Owning your music clearly is part of the money stage of artist development. The pillar guide has all five stages. The split sheets guide has the paper for every collaboration, and the UK release checklist puts the registrations in order against your release date.
- Artist development: what it is, what it costs, and how to tell it's working
- What is a split sheet? The paper independent artists skip
- How does the music industry work?
- The UK independent release checklist (2026)
- How do independent artists make money?
- Artist development for your first release
- Split sheet generatorfree tool
- PRS, PPL or both? checkerfree tool
Questions artists ask
Is my music automatically copyrighted in the UK?
Yes. Copyright exists as soon as the song is written down or recorded. You don't apply for it and there's no fee.
Is there an official UK copyright register for music?
No. The UK has no copyright register. Royalty societies and distributors keep records of who wrote and owns what, which helps, but they don't give you copyright; you already have it.
How long does copyright last on a song in the UK?
The song lasts 70 years after the death of its writer, or of the last surviving writer for a co-write. The recording lasts 70 years from when it's first released.
Do I need to copyright my song before I send it to someone?
No. It's already yours. Keep a dated copy of what you sent, and if you're sending it to a collaborator, agree the split in writing before you start working on it together.
Does putting © on my music protect it?
It doesn't add protection, which you already have. It's a useful notice that tells people who owns it. The ℗ mark is the version commonly used for recordings.
Does PRS for Music copyright my songs?
No. Joining and registering your songs with PRS for Music is how the writers' share of the money reaches you. It also records who wrote each song and in what shares.
Can someone steal my song if I post it online?
They can copy it, but that doesn't make it theirs. A public post with a date is itself evidence that you had it first. If it happens, gather your dated trail and get advice from a music lawyer or the Musicians' Union.
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