Music Copyright Guide

Understanding Your Rights as a Creator

In the music industry, understanding who owns what is just as important as the recording process itself. When you book a session at Bivinylfiora—whether for Vocal Recording, Analog Tracking, or full Music Production—it is essential to know how copyright applies to the music you create.

Every recorded song inherently contains two distinct copyrights. Understanding the difference between these two is the foundation of music business literacy.

Work for Hire and Studio Ownership

A common question we receive at Bivinylfiora is: "Does the studio own my music if I record it there?"

The simple answer is No. When you hire Bivinylfiora S.L. for standard recording, mixing, or mastering services (e.g., paying our 60 €/hour Vocal Recording rate or 250 €/track Mixing fee), we operate strictly as a service provider. You retain 100% ownership of your Master recording and the underlying Composition, provided you have paid your studio invoice in full.

However, the situation changes slightly regarding Music Production. If our Lead Producer, Carlos Mendoza, actively co-writes the song with you—such as creating original chord progressions, melodies, or writing lyrics during a 400 €/day production session—he may be entitled to a percentage of the Composition (Publishing) rights. This is standard industry practice. In such cases, we strongly advocate for agreeing on split sheets (a document detailing the percentage of ownership for each writer) before leaving the studio.

Using Samples and Beats

If you are bringing an instrumental track (a "beat") to record vocals over, you must ensure you have the appropriate license from the beatmaker.

• Leased Beats: Often come with restrictions on stream counts or commercial use. Ensure your lease allows for professional recording and distribution.
• Exclusive Rights: Purchasing exclusive rights usually transfers the Master ownership of the beat to you, though the producer may retain a share of the Publishing.
• Uncleared Samples: Bivinylfiora is not responsible for clearing samples. If you use a copyrighted sample in your track (e.g., a drum break from a 70s funk record), you must secure clearance from the original rights holders before commercially releasing the song.

Registering Your Music

Once your session is finished, your tracks are mixed by Sofia Navarro and mastered by Diego Ramos, what are the next steps to protect your work?

1. Registro de la Propiedad Intelectual: In Spain, you can formally register your compositions with the Intellectual Property Registry. While copyright exists the moment a work is fixed in a tangible medium, registration provides solid legal proof of ownership.
2. PRO Registration: Register your works with a Performing Rights Organization (like SGAE, BMI, ASCAP, or PRS) to ensure you collect performance royalties.
3. ISRC Codes: When distributing your music via platforms like DistroKid or TuneCore, you will be assigned an ISRC (International Standard Recording Code). This unique identifier tracks your specific Master recording across digital platforms.