Protecting a song when it’s on every playlist is a bit like keeping a garden alive in many climates. First, the songwriter registers the work with their local copyright office; that gives the legal birth certificate for the song. Then, for streaming, the label or the artist signs a licensing deal with each major platform—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.—and those platforms handle the mechanical and performance rights in each country they operate. Many of those services also use performance‑rights organizations, like ASCAP or BMI in the US, or PRS in the UK, which collect and distribute royalties worldwide. So the protection is a network: the original copyright, the licensing agreements, and the global royalty‑collection bodies. It’s a layered safety net that keeps the melody safe no matter where it’s heard.

It’s like watching a fragile painting in a crowded gallery—each frame must be inspected, and the guard must stay alert for any shadowy corners. Constant audits feel like gentle reminders that the piece is worth protecting, and having that legal line in the contract is a quiet, firm promise that no one can erase the art without notice. The paperwork is the foundation, and the ongoing vigilance is the paint that keeps the colors true.

Absolutely, the contract should feel like a sturdy frame around the song—clear, unambiguous, and unforgiving to anyone who tries to slip around it. That way the art stays safe and the value keeps its shine.