Published
5-6-2026
Type of Work
Article - Journal
Project Affiliation
Masters of Musicology, University of Sydney
Abstract
This study investigates how contemporary music production challenges traditional ideas of authorship and compensation within Australia’s independent music scene. As producers increasingly shape the emotional and structural identity of songs, questions emerge about whether their contributions should be recognized as creative authorship or treated as professional service. Drawing on my perspective as a practising producer, I conducted interviews with 17 industry professionals, including producers, artists, and beatmakers, to examine how creative input is understood, negotiated, and valued. While some participants felt that production decisions merit recognition beyond a standard fee, others viewed such input as part of the producer’s role. A key conceptual finding was the distinction between the song as a core composition and the recorded version shaped through production, and how each may be recognized differently under copyright. Rather than proposing a fixed model for reform, the study reflects on how contributors define their roles and what this reveals about shifting expectations of authorship, ownership, and reward.
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Citation
Giovannangelo, M. (2026). Beyond the song: Reimagining authorship and copyright for producers in Australian independent music. Perfect Beat, 23(1), 4–25. https://doi.org/10.1558/pb.33498
Link to Published Work
https://journal.equinoxpub.com/PB/article/view/33498
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/406130026_Beyond_the_song_Reimagining_authorship_and_copyright_for_producers_in_Australian_independent_music