Who administers the song copyright?

• A. Music publishing company
• B. Record label
• C. Artist
• D. Distributor

Answer: (A)

The administration of a song's copyright focuses on licensing the musical composition, collecting royalties, and managing registrations and ownership splits. This is typically handled by a music publishing company, which represents the songwriters and handles the permissions needed to use the song in various contexts. They secure mechanical licenses for reproductions, synchronization licenses for film/TV, and work with performing rights organizations to collect performance royalties, ensuring writers are paid.

The other roles involve different rights: a record label controls the master recording, not the underlying composition; the artist is the creator of the performance but does not automatically manage the copyright unless they self-publish; a distributor moves the recording to platforms but does not manage the song’s copyright administration.