Public domain 2026 for musicians: "Georgia on My Mind", "I Got Rhythm" and 1925 recordings are free. What that covers, and the traps
On 1 January 2026, US copyright ended for songs published in 1930 and for recordings from 1925. You can now re-record, adapt and sample them in the US without a licence. Later recordings, new arrangements and other countries are where the traps are.
Artist rightsvia Center for the Study of the Public Domain, Duke University School of Law