What are Neighboring Rights?

Neighboring rights are a type of copyright-related protection that applies to the performers and producers of sound recordings, rather than the composers or songwriters of the musical composition. These rights allow performers and recording owners to receive compensation when their recordings are publicly played or broadcast.

Neighboring rights typically apply when a sound recording is used in contexts such as radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, public performances, or digital streaming services. In these situations, royalties may be paid to the recording artist and the record label that owns the master recording.

These rights are called “neighboring” because they exist alongside the traditional copyright protections for musical compositions. While songwriters and publishers receive royalties for the composition, neighboring rights ensure that performers and recording owners are also compensated when their recorded performances are used publicly.