Final answer:
The initial owner of copyright in a musical work is the songwriter who created it. This ownership grants the songwriter exclusive rights to their work, subject to the life of the author plus 70 years of copyright protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Initial Copyright Ownership in a Musical Work
The initial owner of copyright in a musical work is generally the songwriter who created the work. Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for 'original works of authorship' which includes various categories of works such as musical compositions. When a songwriter creates an original song, they are automatically granted the exclusive rights to their work, including the right to reproduce, display, and perform the work.
While others, such as a talent agent, publisher, or recording engineer may subsequently acquire rights or licenses to the copyrighted work, the copyright itself arises at the moment of creation and belongs to the author. In the case of joint authorship, where multiple songwriters come together to create a single work, they are considered joint authors with indivisible interest in the copyright of the combined work.
If we apply this to a practical example, only John Legend may legally produce, sell, or perform his song 'All of Me' unless he grants permission to others. The copyright protection typically extends for the life of the author plus 70 years, thereby safeguarding creators' rights over their works for an extended period after their death.