How should I try to bye the copyrights to an mostly unknown song?

Buying the rights to a mostly unknown song is absolutely doable — and often much easier than dealing with major-label music. The trick is knowing which rights you need, who owns them, and how to approach them without overpaying. Here’s a clean, practical roadmap you can follow.

🎵 1. Understand which rights you’re trying to buy

A song has two separate copyrights:

Copyright What it covers Typical owner
Composition Melody + lyrics Songwriter or music publisher
Sound recording (master) The actual recorded audio Performer or record label

If you want to:

Use the song in a video → you need a license, not ownership

Remix or sample it → you need permission for both copyrights

Own the song outright → you need to purchase both copyrights

Knowing this upfront saves you time and money.

🔍 2. Identify who owns the song

For an unknown or indie song, ownership is usually simple.

Start with:
The artist’s website or social media

Bandcamp, SoundCloud, YouTube descriptions

Email listed for bookings or business inquiries

If the artist is unsigned, they probably own both copyrights.

If the artist is signed:
The master may belong to a label

The composition may belong to a publisher
You’d need to contact both.

✉️ 3. Reach out with a clear, professional message

Artists respond better when you sound serious and respectful.
Here’s a simple structure:

Subject: Inquiry About Purchasing Rights to Your Song

Message:

Who you are

Which song you’re interested in

What you want (license vs. full ownership)

Your intended use

Your budget range (optional but helpful)

You don’t need legal language — just clarity.

💵 4. Expect realistic pricing

Unknown or indie songs can be surprisingly affordable.

Typical ranges:
Non‑exclusive license: $50–$500

Exclusive license: $300–$2,000

Full copyright buyout: $500–$10,000

Depends on how attached the artist is

Depends on whether the song has any traction

If the song is truly unknown, a buyout can be very cheap.

📝 5. Use a simple contract

You don’t need a lawyer for the first draft.
A basic agreement should include:

Names of both parties

Exact rights being transferred

Payment amount

Whether the artist keeps any royalties

Whether the artist can still perform the song

Whether you get the master files

Signatures

If you’re buying full ownership, the contract should say “assignment of copyright”.

You can always have a lawyer review it before signing.

🧭 6. Red flags to avoid

The artist doesn’t know who owns their masters

The song contains samples they don’t have rights to

They refuse to sign anything

They want “exposure” instead of a contract

Unknown songs sometimes have hidden complications, so stay cautious.

If you want, I can help you:
Draft a message to the artist

Figure out whether you need a license or full ownership

Estimate a fair price based on your use

Outline a simple contract you can take to a lawyer

Just tell me what your goal is with the song.

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