“Stream It, Sing It, Secure It: Why Music Needs IP Protection”

Synopsis Of The Article

• World Intellectual Property Day 2025 focuses on the role of IP rights in supporting music as a universal form of creative expression.
• IP rights ensure fair compensation for creators, fostering ongoing creativity and innovation.
• Music’s cross-industry impact extends into film, technology, fashion, and gaming, driving economic growth.
• WIPO’s role is central in supporting creativity and innovation worldwide, creating legal and policy environments that empower creators.
• Key topics include protecting artists’ work, streaming monetization, understanding royalties, trademarks, digital piracy, licensing deals, collective management organizations, legal contracts, AI’s impact, live performances, branding, NFTs, women’s IP protection, songwriter compensation, sync licensing, copyright vs. trademark, music tourism, streaming revenue distribution, music contracts, indie self-publishing, copyright myths, fair trade practices, fair pay, and legal support.​

Music is a universal language that connects people across cultures and generations. On World Intellectual Property Day 2025, we celebrate the vital role of Intellectual Property (IP) rights in supporting the music industry and its creators.​

IP rights, such as copyrights and trademarks, are essential for protecting the creations of musicians, songwriters, and producers. They ensure that creators receive fair compensation for their work, which in turn encourages ongoing creativity and innovation.​

For instance, copyright protects the actual music and lyrics, while trademarks safeguard an artist’s brand, logo, and identity. These protections are crucial for artists to maintain control over their work and to build a sustainable career in the music industry.​

Music doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it intersects with various industries like film, technology, fashion, and gaming. IP rights facilitate collaborations across these sectors, driving creative synergies and fostering economic growth.​

For example, licensing music for use in films, TV shows, and advertisements offers artists lucrative income opportunities and helps them gain exposure in different media, expanding their fan base and generating further revenue.​

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that plays a central role in supporting creativity and innovation worldwide. WIPO works with member states and partners to create legal and policy environments that empower creators, artists, and entrepreneurs to succeed and thrive. WIPO​

• Protecting Artists’ Work: Artists can safeguard their music through IP rights like copyright and trademarks, preventing unauthorised use and ensuring fair compensation.​
• Streaming Monetisation: Streaming platforms provide significant revenue streams for artists, though the per-stream payout is low. Understanding how platforms calculate royalties can help artists maximise their income.​
• Understanding Royalties: Royalties are payments to musicians for the use of their music across platforms such as radio, streaming, and live performances. Musicians need to understand the different types of royalties and how to claim them for fair compensation.​
• Trademarks in Music: Trademarks protect the artist’s brand, logo, and identity, preventing unauthorised use and maintaining the distinctiveness of an artist’s image.​
• Digital Piracy: Digital piracy affects artists by depriving them of revenue from legitimate sales and streams. Legal measures and consumer education are essential to combat piracy.​
• Licensing Deals: Licensing music for use in films, TV shows, and advertisements offers artists lucrative income opportunities and helps them gain exposure in different media.​
• Collective Management Organisations (CMOS): CMOS help artists collect and distribute royalties, ensuring creators are paid for the use of their work. They simplify royalty tracking, especially for international uses. ​
• Legal Contracts: Legal contracts are essential to ensure clarity on payment terms, rights, and responsibilities in collaborations and deals. They safeguard artists’ interests and help avoid disputes.​
• AI in Music: AI is reshaping music by automating tasks like composition and sound mixing. It also helps artists and labels analyse trends to make informed decisions.​
• Live Performances: Live performances are a major source of income for artists. This includes revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorships.
• Branding & Merchandising: Building a brand and offering merchandise allows artists to profit from their image and fan loyalty.​
• NFTs & Blockchain: NFTs and blockchain provide artists with new ways to sell unique digital versions of their music, ensuring transparency and traceable transactions.​
• Women in Music: IP protection is essential for women in the music industry, ensuring fair compensation and recognition.​
• Songwriter Compensation: Songwriters should register their works with performing rights organisations (PROS) to ensure they receive royalties for performances and broadcasts.​
• Sync Licensing: Sync licensing allows artists to license their music for use in movies, TV shows, and commercials, creating new revenue opportunities.​
• Copyright vs. Trademark: Copyright protects the actual music and lyrics, while trademarks protect the artist’s brand name, logo, and image.​
• Music Tourism: Music tourism generates revenue for local economies, from concert ticket sales to hotel bookings and merchandise.​
• Streaming Revenue Distribution: Understanding how platforms calculate royalties and setting up an efficient strategy can help artists maximise their income from streaming services.​
• Music Contracts: Music contracts are essential for defining ownership, royalties, and distribution rights.

Music Contracts Clearly Define:

• Who owns the song
• Who gets how much money
• What happens if the song is used in ads, films, or on streaming platforms

These legal agreements help avoid misunderstandings between artists, producers, and record labels. They also protect independent artists who might otherwise be exploited by unfair deals.

Thanks to digital platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud, many artists are choosing to go independent. That means they release music without a big record label. While this gives them more freedom, it also means they must:

• Handle their own copyrights and trademarks
• Learn how to license their songs
• Register their work with Performance Rights Organisations (PROs)
• Take care of promotion, distribution, and royalties on their own

It’s tough, but with the right knowledge and tools, it’s very possible!

Let’s bust a few copyright myths:

•  “If it’s on the internet, it’s free to use” → Nope! Most content is still protected by copyright.
•  “Changing a few words or beats makes it original” → Not always! If it’s recognisable, it could still be copyright infringement.
•  “You can use copyrighted music if you don’t make money from it” → That’s not a safe excuse either. Permission is often required regardless.

Understanding the truth about IP laws helps artists stay safe and avoid legal trouble.

Many groups around the world are pushing for fair trade music—a system where artists are paid fairly, no matter where their music is played. This includes:

• Transparency in how revenue is shared
• Equal rights for artists in smaller or developing countries
• Efforts to make royalty systems more global and inclusive

World IP Day brings attention to these goals, reminding us that music has no borders, and neither should fairness.

Sometimes, IP laws and contracts can feel too complicated. That’s why it’s important for musicians to:

• Consult an entertainment lawyer or IP expert
• Join artist unions or music rights organisations
• Use resources from trusted platforms like WIPO, ASCAP, BMI, or PRS for Music

These groups offer legal support, education, and services that protect musicians and help them grow their careers.

Even if you’re not a musician, understanding intellectual property helps you:

• Respect artists and their hard work
• Avoid accidental copyright violations
• Support fair business practices
• Be more creative in your own work

Whether you’re a student, a content creator, a teacher, or just a music lover, World IP Day is for you too.

World Intellectual Property Day 2025 is more than just a date. It’s a celebration of creativity, a reminder of the value of music, and a call to action for artists, fans, and industry professionals.

Let’s use this day to:

• Listen to more original music
• Learn something new about IP rights
• Share and support independent artists
• Respect creative work by giving credit and compensation where it’s due

As WIPO says, when we protect creativity, we fuel progress—and in the case of music, we make the world a more joyful place.