# Music Recordings That Are Public Domain Now?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 25, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083 "2017-07-25T15:48:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083/1 "2017-07-25T15:48:06Z")

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Something I have wondered for some time now.

After a certain amount of time (I think it is a hundred years–correct me if I am wrong), songs become public domain. My question: Are there any **recordings** of songs that fall into this category?

I guess I can tell you the full story. About 10-15 years ago I was thinking of downloading this Andrews Sisters song. And I thought to myself, is this song already public domain? Anyway, I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t. But was it? Especially now?

:):)🙂

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083/2 "2017-07-25T16:20:32Z")

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[Handy dandy guide](http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm)

tl;dr version  
Published 1922 and before? Yes  
Jan 1, 1923 to Mar 1, 1989? Maybe. It depends if the copyright holder jumped through all the hoops correctly.  
Mar 2, 1989 to present? Assume no.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083/3 "2017-07-25T16:39:11Z")

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> [@Jim\_B](#):
>
> I guess I can tell you the full story. About 10-15 years ago I was thinking of downloading this Andrews Sisters song. And I thought to myself, is this song already public domain? Anyway, I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t. But was it? Especially now?

If it’s at [archive.org](http://archive.org) it’s public domain.

[https://archive.org/details/78rpm?&and[]=andrews%20sisters](https://archive.org/details/78rpm?&and%5B%5D=andrews%20sisters)

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recordings-that-are-public-domain-now/792083/4 "2017-07-25T17:37:53Z")

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Edit window  
My synopsis is for written work.  
Sound recording is further down on the list.