Does the law of music protect the industry? This is the topic area that we have been researching for the past couple of weeks, and now we’re presenting what we have discovered.

But firstly, what is the Law of Music?

The Laws of Music are rules that govern how music is produced and what can be done with the music that is produced. These include selling show tickets to a popular artist’s concert, doing a cover version for a piece of music or song you like, and recording the actual audio of the music. Of course, these are only some of the rules that make up the many that control what the music industry can and can’t do.

But the question is: Does the Law of music really protect the music industry, or does it limit it?

We found out that there can be rules even for the smallest details, that the general public wouldn’t notice or happen behind the scenes but play a crucial role into ensuring the legality of the music or what is done with it. A good example would be that 2 licenses are needed to record music. Most people wouldn’t know that, but those licenses determine whether or not the music can be recorded and even with those licenses it doesn’t guarantee that the piece of music will be recorded and published. Most people follow the rules that are set to prevent fines or criminal charges, and of course to make sure that music can easily and smoothly be produced and published. But the strict rules on making music have proved it hard to produce music and when rules are broken it involves governing and it becomes frustrating and complicated to deal with.

Overall, we have concluded that, the laws of music, like any other laws are put in place to make sure there is no misbehaviour when involved with the legal processes of making music and advertising it in the industry. Although the rules can be seen as slightly constraining the creation of music because of its tedious and extended conditions, we deemed it necessary that there are such laws to ensure the legal rights the music produced, holds, which in the long term ensures the future that more generations can produce music. The artists and publishers that faces theses harsh processes and rules when it comes to making music and marketing it prove that their music deserves to be listened to and is therefore acknowledged widely by the public. This project made us more openminded to how music is created and what can be done with it and makes us more appreciative of the groups and individuals that make listening to music everyday possible.

• Abigail