Who typically holds the copyright in the recording itself?

• A. The songwriter
• B. The publisher
• C. The record company
• D. The performing artist

Answer: (C)

Sound recordings have their own copyright separate from the underlying song, and who owns that recording is usually the party that finances and produces the master. In standard recording contracts, the record label owns the rights to the master recording because it funds, records, and distributes the track, licensing it to others and collecting royalties on those uses. The artist typically does not own the master by default, though they may receive royalties and perhaps a share of revenue under the contract. In contrast, the songwriter owns the copyright in the musical composition itself, and that work is usually managed by the publisher. There are exceptions—for example, self-released artists or negotiated arrangements can place the masters with the artist or a producer—but the typical default is that the record company holds the copyright in the recording itself.