Can I collect songwriter royalties if my work is in the public domain?

Yes, you can receive royalties if you create a new arrangement of a song that is in the public domain. A song becomes public domain if its lyrics and music were published more than 100 years ago, which means its copyright has expired.

If you arrange a public domain work, you can add it to your Composition Manager and receive royalties as the arranger. However, make sure the song you’re arranging truly qualifies as public domain.

For instance, if you create an arrangement of the traditional song ‘Happy Birthday’ you can register it as the arranger but not the composer/author. Keep in mind that not all income sources will pay the full amount of royalties due to arrangers. For example, some might only pay 20% of the full performance royalty for arrangements of public domain works.