If you don’t write down or record your song, it’s hard to prove you made it or that it existed.
If you haven't already...
Record your song
On your phone, computer, or other device – it doesn’t need to be high quality.
AND/OR Write it down
Lyrics, chords, or musical notation. Handwritten or typed!
This gives you proof it’s yours and helps you remember your ideas.
HOW TO KEEP AND ORGANISE YOUR SONG'S DETAILS
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Keep everything that outlines your rights related to the song
- Document agreements – who wrote a song, copyright splits, licenses, or usage permissions.
- Tangible versions of your songs – whether it’s written lyrics/chords, voice memo on your phone or a sound recording.
- Emails/messages/DM’s – Sometimes copyright agreements happen informally through texts, emails, or social media messages.
Online cloud storage service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
Saving your files in a cloud service allows you to access them anywhere, share with collaborators and it’s not lost if your device crashes.
Word document/Google Doc – Write down agreements using a document in your cloud. This automatically saves and stores it online.
Screen shots – If you receive an informal agreement via text or social media, take a screen shot and save it to your cloud storage.
Emails – Keep copies of important emails saved in a folder within your email account or export them to your cloud storage for easy access.
Handwritten Works Too! If you write something by hand (like a copyright split), make sure you label it and take a clear photo or scan it and upload it to your cloud storage so you don’t lose it.
In your cloud storage:
- create a dedicated folder and clearly label it (e.g. music_agreements)
- label files clearly (e.g. SongTitle_split_2025)
Once your song is ready, register it with APRA AMCOS. This ensures you get paid when it’s played live, streamed, or broadcast. Go to the APRA AMCOS website and submit your song details. Keep a copy of the registration confirmation in your copyright folder.
register your song with apra amcos
We’ve created a song information template for you to fill out.
This is like a “pretend” registration – to practice what it would be like to officially register your song with a place like APRA AMCOS.
Think of it as a way to show that you are the creator and gets you into the habit of documenting your song and thinking about who owns what.
THE COPYRIGHT MYTHS!
Do I need to use a copyright symbol?
Short answer: NO!
If that’s all you need to know, you can stop reading.
But if you like random facts… read on!
In Australia, copyright is automatic – you don’t need to use the © symbol for your work to be protected.
In some countries (like the USA), the copyright symbol was once required to claim copyright. That law changed over 100 years ago, but some people still think it’s needed. It’s never been required in Australia.
So what's the point of the copyright symbol?
It’s a way to show your work is yours.
Write it with your name and year (e.g. ©Your Name 2025).
It lets others know your work is protected by copyright and tells them who to contact for permission.
