Guides · Musicians
Register a whole album for $65.
A song can carry two copyrights: the musical work (the composition and lyrics) and the sound recording (the recorded performance). The Copyright Office has options that cover a release in one application. Pick by what you are putting out.
Which option fits
| You are releasing | Option | Office fee |
|---|---|---|
| An album or EP | Group of works on an album of music (GRAM): up to 20 musical works, or up to 20 sound recordings with the works they embody, all on the same album | $65 |
| Songs not released yet | Group of unpublished works (GRUW): up to 10 works | $85 |
| One song, written and owned by you alone | Single Application | $45 |
| A co-written song, or one made for hire | Standard Application | $65 |
Release day starts the clock
Statutory damages and attorney’s fees are only available for copying that began after you registered, unless you register within three months of first publication (17 U.S.C. §412). Register the album within three months of release, or register the songs before release as unpublished works, and an early leak or an unlicensed use stays fully covered.
At the Copyright Claims Board the difference is up to $15,000 per work when registered on time, against $7,500 per work (and $15,000 for all late works together) when not. More on the three-month rule →
Put your catalog in one ledger
Add songs with their album and release date; Registry groups an album into one GRAM filing, unreleased songs into GRUW groups of ten, and shows the last safe day for each.
Registry is self-help software, not a law firm. Who owns which copyright in a song depends on your agreements; check them, and the Copyright Office’s help pages, before you file.