What are Master Rights?

Master rights refer to the ownership and control of the original sound recording of a song. These rights belong to the person or company that owns the master recording, which is often a record label or sometimes the artist if they produced and financed the recording themselves. Master rights are separate from the rights to the musical composition.

Owning the master rights gives the owner control over how the recording can be used, distributed, and licensed. For example, if a film, advertisement, or video game wants to use a specific recorded version of a song, they must obtain a master license from the owner of the master recording. This is separate from the sync license required from the song’s publisher.

Master rights are an important part of the music business because they determine who earns revenue from the use of the recorded track. Income from streaming, digital downloads, physical sales, and certain licensing deals often goes to the master rights holder. Artists sometimes negotiate to retain or regain their master rights in order to maintain greater control over their recordings.