I know some of the steps to copyrighting a song, but I would like to know how many songs I can copyright for the $45 fee. Can I copyright 100 songs for the single fee of $45? What is the limit? Or is there a separate $45 fee for each individual song?
It's $35, for $45, and yes, each song (musical composition) should get its own separate copyright.
If you have 100 songs, you should also form a publishing company, register it as well as yourself as a songwirter with ASCAP or BMI, and get a music lawyer.
Please see the legal guide linked below.
Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
A "song" could be any one -- or all three -- of the following: (1) the lyrics alone [in which case the song is a "literary" work], (2) the lyrics and music [in which case the song is a "musical composition"], or (3) a particular recording of a song [in which case the song is a "sound recording"]. Each of these DIFFERENT works is protected by its own copyright which can be registered separately.
If you only have lyrics, or the lyrics and music [i.e., the musical notation or "score"], then the short answer is yes, you can register either as a "collective work" via one application if they are "unpublished" and certain other criteria are met. The copyright registration covers each particular work as well as your arrangement of them all. See the other requirements at 37 CFR 202.3(b)(4) at . If you have only lyrics, your songs are literary works. If you have only lyrics and music, your songs are musical compositions.
If the songs are ONLY recorded performances, then the sound recordings have fixed not only those particular sounds but the lyrics and music of the songs as well. You can register the copyright in all three [the lyrics, music, and sound recording] in one registration.
For general instructions on how to record the copyright in a musical composition see the Copyright Office circular at http://www.copyright.gov/circs/ at Circular 50. See also Circulars 56, 56a, and FL 105 for information about sound recording copyright registration.
I strongly encourage you to buy the books All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition by Donald S. Passman and Moser on Music Copyright by David J. Moser.
See also http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtistsHouseMusic#p/search/24/7r7zmSJW-n8 and
http://www.scorexchange.org/how-to-register-your-copyright/ .
If your "songs" have the potential to make you any money then you should have a copyright attorney register at least some of them for you and teach you how to do it.
