Academic & Specialty Courses
Music Law & Intellectual Property
Protect your work. Know your rights. Build your career.
The music industry runs on contracts, copyrights, and royalties. This course gives you the legal knowledge every working musician needs — whether you're signing your first deal, licensing your compositions, or building a catalog of original work.
Core Topics Covered
Copyright
Contracts
Royalties
Licensing
The Stakes
"In music, what you don't know can hurt you. Every year, musicians lose millions in royalties they never knew they were owed."
Most musicians enter the industry with passion and talent but little understanding of the legal frameworks that govern their work. They sign contracts they don't understand, give away rights they'll never get back, and miss out on revenue streams they didn't know existed.
This course changes that. You'll learn to read contracts, protect your compositions, understand how royalties flow, and make informed decisions about your creative career.
In "black box" royalties go unclaimed each year
Of musicians don't fully understand their contracts
Years your copyright lasts under current law
What You'll Learn
Core Topics
Four essential areas of music law that every working musician must understand.
Copyright Law
Understand what copyright protects, how to register your works, and what happens when someone infringes your rights.
Contracts
Learn to read and negotiate recording contracts, publishing deals, producer agreements, and collaboration splits.
Royalties
Master the complex world of mechanical, performance, sync, and streaming royalties — and how to collect them.
Licensing & Sync
Understand how music gets placed in film, TV, games, and advertising — and how to get your music considered.
The Curriculum
Ten Weeks to Legal Literacy
A comprehensive journey through the legal landscape of the music industry.
Foundations of Copyright
Copyright Registration & Protection
Music Publishing Fundamentals
Recording Contracts
Royalty Streams Explained
PROs and Collection Societies
Sync Licensing
Collaboration & Splits
Disputes & Enforcement
Building Your Business
Ideal Students
Who This Course Is For
Whether you're just starting out or building on an established career, this course gives you the legal foundation you need.
Songwriters and composers who want to protect and monetize their compositions
Recording artists navigating label deals, distribution, and royalty collection
Producers seeking to understand their rights and proper compensation
Music educators who need to understand copyright for teaching and curriculum
Music business professionals seeking a deeper understanding of industry law
How It Works
Course Structure
Practical legal education designed for working musicians.
Video Lectures
Clear explanations of complex legal concepts
Contract Templates
Real documents to study and reference
Case Studies
Learn from real industry disputes and deals
Q&A Sessions
Get your specific questions answered
Time Commitment
3–4 hours per week including lectures, reading, and exercises
Duration
10 weeks covering all major areas of music law
Prerequisites
None — designed for musicians, not lawyers
Completion
Certificate plus resource library of templates and guides
Practical Application
Real-World Scenarios
You'll learn to navigate situations like these with confidence.
"Someone uploaded my song to YouTube without permission. What are my options?"
Learn about DMCA takedowns, Content ID, and when to pursue further action.
"A label offered me a deal, but the contract is 40 pages. What should I look for?"
Understand key terms: rights granted, royalty rates, recoupment, and reversion clauses.
"My song is streaming on Spotify but I'm not getting paid. Why?"
Trace the royalty chain, identify missing registrations, and set up proper collection.
"A filmmaker wants to use my song. How much should I charge?"
Learn to evaluate sync opportunities and negotiate fair fees for your music.
"I wrote a song with a friend. Now we're fighting about who owns what."
Understand split sheets, joint work rules, and how to prevent disputes before they start.
"Can I legally sample this old recording if I change it enough?"
Learn the truth about sampling law, clearance requirements, and safe practices.
What You'll Achieve
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to do all of the following.
Read Contracts
Understand the key terms in recording, publishing, and producer agreements — and know what to negotiate.
Protect Your Work
Register copyrights, document collaborations, and take action when your rights are infringed.
Collect Royalties
Set up proper registrations with PROs, the MLC, and other collection organizations worldwide.
License Music
Navigate sync licensing opportunities and negotiate fair terms for your compositions and recordings.
Structure Deals
Create proper split sheets, understand publishing structures, and document all your agreements.
Build Your Business
Set up a publishing entity, understand tax implications, and plan for long-term catalog value.
Expert Perspective
Why Legal Knowledge Matters
The difference between musicians who build wealth from their catalog and those who don't often comes down to one thing: understanding the business.
Catalog as Asset
Your songs are intellectual property — assets that can appreciate in value over decades.
Rights Are Power
The rights you keep or give away determine your options for the life of your copyright.
Global Opportunity
Music is international, and so are your royalties — if you're set up to collect them.
"I wish I'd taken a course like this 20 years ago. The money I've lost to bad deals and uncollected royalties would have paid for a hundred courses. This knowledge is invaluable."
Student Success
What Students Say
"After this course, I renegotiated my publishing deal and got a 20% better split. The course paid for itself a hundred times over in the first year alone."
"I discovered I had thousands in uncollected royalties because I wasn't registered properly. The module on collection societies literally put money in my pocket."
"As a music teacher, I needed to understand copyright for my curriculum. This course gave me confidence to use music legally and teach my students about their rights."
"I was about to sign a bad deal before taking this course. The contract module taught me to spot red flags. I walked away and found a much better opportunity."
Get Started
Enroll in Music Law & Intellectual Property
Take control of your music business. Fill out the form below and we'll send you enrollment details.
Know Your Rights. Protect Your Work.
Every day you operate without understanding music law, you risk losing money and rights you'll never get back. This course gives you the knowledge to take control of your career.