April 26th marks World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, which celebrates IP’s role in fostering innovation and supporting creativity around the world. This year’s theme, IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP, celebrates the creators and entrepreneurs who are pushing boundaries and making music that brings people together and inspires us all. IP rights safeguard original work, enable artists and musicians to succeed and empower collaboration.

Protecting Original Work

IP rights are critical to songwriters, composers, performers, and all those who create and shape music. Copyright is the cornerstone of the music industry, as it protects the originality of a song and allows creators to control the use of their work. Additionally, patents are critical in protecting other innovations in the music industry, such as new ways of accessing and listening to music and new instruments or devices for creating music. In 2020, Tony Louscher received a patent for a new type of guitar, which allows musicians to change the guitar’s frequencies and sustain notes longer; it also improves recording by suppressing feedback and minimizing interference with other instruments. 

Supporting Artists & Musicians 

IP rights also enable artists to be fairly compensated for their music. Payments made to rights holders, called royalties, allowing artists to build careers and even make a living from their original works. South African hip hop artist Stogie T has highlighted the role of IP in his own career. He advises other artists to be IP savvy, sharing with WIPO Magazine, “I tell every 18-year old who wants to rap that if they spend just one hour understanding what music publishing is, what IP is, what royalties are, and what their rights are, they will do more for their music than the three hours they spend on YouTube figuring out how to mix a new drum pattern.”

Empowering Collaboration

IP rights also foster cross-industry collaboration, enabling musicians to retain control of their music while licensing it for use in other creative works, such as movies or TV shows. When Kate Bush's 1985 song Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) was featured in an 2022 episode of the hit series Stranger Things, the song rose back to the top of the charts. Kate Bush has expressed her “delight” that the Stranger Things directors wanted to use Running Up That Hill: “I feel deeply honored that the song was chosen to become a part of their roller coaster journey.” IP protections support this kind of collaboration.

As we celebrate World IP Day, it's clear that IP is an unsung hero behind the music we love. From protecting the creative spark of songwriters and inventors to supporting sustainable careers for artists and enabling powerful collaborations across industries, IP is the foundation that keeps the music world thriving. By understanding and valuing IP, we not only safeguard artistic expression but also fuel innovation and creativity in music.