Composition Rights
Rights connected to the underlying song, commonly involving songwriters, composers and publishers.
Explore Publishing →Rights administration
Understand the Rights
Within Your Music.
A release can involve composition rights, master rights and performance or related rights. Clear ownership and documentation help determine the right administration pathway.
Three practical categories
Different rights protect
different parts of the music.
This overview is designed to help creators ask better questions. It is general information, not legal advice.
Master Rights
Rights connected to the specific sound recording, commonly controlled by an artist, record label or other master owner.
Explore Recording Distribution →Performance & Related Rights
Rights arising from public performance, broadcast and certain uses involving creators, performers and recording owners.
View South African Context ↓Why the distinction matters
One use may require
more than one permission.
A commercial use can involve separate approvals for the composition and the master recording. Indigenous Tunes will not describe a work as one-stop cleared unless both sides are controlled or appropriately authorised.
South African rights context
Distinct organisations.
Distinct areas of relevance.
Memberships or relationships do not imply endorsement and do not guarantee royalties, registration, administration or licensing outcomes.
Composition performance
Associated with performing rights for composers, authors and publishers.
Mechanical & digital
Associated with mechanical and digital rights administration.
Needletime & related
Associated with related rights for recording artists and record labels.
Recorded music
Associated with the South African recorded-music industry and applicable recording-registration workflows.
A practical starting point
Document who owns what.
Keep contributor names, roles, ownership percentages, identifiers, agreements and rights restrictions organised. Clear records support publishing, licensing and rights-administration conversations.
Need help choosing a pathway?