Grand rights

What are grand rights?

Grand rights are the right to agree or object to the use of a musical work in a dramatic performance such as operas, ballets, or musicals.

Grand rights include the right of public performance, the right of recitation, the right of communication to the public, and sometimes the right of adaptation and translation.

For more information, explore our pages on Rights in Musical Works.

Who has grand rights and provides theatrical licenses?

All songwriters and music publishers who qualify as rights holders of a musical work enjoy grand rights and have to provide a theatrical license for a musical work to be used in a dramatic performance.

When different songwriters and music publishers have rights in a musical work, each will be entitled to a share of the royalties corresponding to their splits.

Visit our page on Songwriting Splits to learn more.

What are theatrical licenses?

Theatrical licenses are the contracts authorizing the use of a musical work for such a dramatic performance, with or without adaptation, which can be granted by the songwriters, their music publishers, or a CMO.

Visit our Music Publishers, CMOs, and Licensing pages for more information.

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