How it works
If someone asked tomorrow for proof you own this, what do you send in 20 minutes?
Melisma is the ownership vault for a self-released catalog: what’s on file, what doesn’t match, and the chain-of-title packet you’d actually attach.
Composition
Melody + lyrics
Writers, decimal splits totaling 100, USCO PA, PRO work, MLC claim. An SR filing does not cover this copyright.
Sound recording
The master
Master owner, ISRC, USCO SR, SoundExchange. DistroKid collaborator splits move master money. They are not a split sheet.
Four steps
1. Add a work
One song, two copyrights, splits that total 100. Co-writers and a producer with a publishing share belong on the composition. Producer points on the master stay on the recording side.
2. Store proof
The signed split sheet is the private source of title. Societies are outputs. Upload certificates, screenshots, and the distributor export that has your ISRC.
3. Check five systems
None of these substitutes for another. Melisma scores each one red, yellow, or green. Green means an artifact or a lookup supports the claim — not a checkbox you clicked.
4. Export the packet
Cover sheet plus whatever is in the vault. What a sync supervisor, Copyright Claims Board filing, or catalog buyer would ask for. Not emailed. Not a live share link.
The five systems
Yellow means unknown or unverified. Red means missing after release, or a mismatch. Green needs proof.
- USCO
Form PA for the composition, Form SR for the recording — or combined if you own both identically.
- PRO
The work registered at ASCAP or BMI. Each co-writer files at their society. Splits must match.
- The MLC
The composition claimed, with the same ISRC the distributor assigned.
- SoundExchange
Featured artist and sound recording copyright owner are two separate registrations.
- Distributor
ISRC and credits from DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby — checked against the other systems, not treated as copyright.
What this is not
Not DistroKid
Distribution still delivers the master and assigns an ISRC. It does not file USCO, register the composition, or prove chain of title.
Not Songtrust
Publishing admins collect if the splits they were given are clean. Melisma does not collect money, including the publisher half.
Not Mogul
Royalty recovery is a different job. Melisma makes ownership state visible and provable. It does not chase unmatched pools.
Melisma does not file at USCO, your PRO, The MLC, or SoundExchange for you. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Start with the last song you released
Add the work, store what you already have, and see which systems are still empty.