The music industry is a vast ecosystem with many parties carrying out multiple functions, but it all starts with the Anyone who contributes to creating or performing a musical work, a live performance, or a sound recording.. Many different types of creators may contribute to a An original musical composition with or without lyrics., live In the context of music, when a musical work is played live or on a sound recording., or Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law., some of which are listed below:
A person who makes an original contribution to the creation of a musical composition or lyrics.
A composer creates the melodies, chord progressions and other elements of a musical work other than the lyrics.
A type of creator that writes the words of a musical work.
Sometimes called a studio producer or record producer, a person who typically helps a recording artist record a musical work. They are usually responsible for the entire recording process.
A songwriter that focuses primarily on writing the vocal melody and, in most cases, also the lyrics of a musical work.
A type of creator who alters a pre-existing musical work, changing, for example, tempo, harmony, instrumentation, and orchestration.
A type of creator that composes instrumental music, which lays the foundation for new musical works.
A type of creator that translates the lyrics of a musical work from one language into another.
In the context of music, a solo performer or group of performers who perform a musical work live or recorded. & In the context of music, a creator playing a musical work live or on a sound recording.
A type of creator that creates lyrics or composes music at the same time as they perform it.
A person who plays a musical instrument.
A person who ensures that sound is captured in the best way possible in a studio or live setting.
Disc Jockey: a person who curates and plays sound recordings to an audience. DJs can mix sound recordings together to create new and unique versions or mixes. & A type of creator that modifies, adds, or rearranges existing musical or vocal elements of a sound recording to create a new sound recording.
Creators can have multiple roles when creating a The term "song" does not have a legal definition. It is frequently used to mean "musical work” – the composition and lyrics (if any) created by songwriters and composers. However, it could also refer to a “sound recording” (a specific recording of a musical work), or a “performance” (a live performance of a musical work).. Depending on their creative role and contribution to the musical work, live performance, or sound recording, a creator will have different functions, The controls creators or rights holders have over what they have created or produced and over their identity and image., responsibilities, and ownership.
For more details on these roles, refer to our Songwriting and Recording topics.
Image credit: Eric Ivar Persson, Parapix