Mapping the Global Landscape of Music Copyright Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
Abstract
This study presents a global bibliometric analysis of research on music copyright published between 2010 and 2025, drawing on 1,090 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus. Using VOSviewer, it maps co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic clusters to provide a comprehensive overview of research structures and trends across disciplines and regions. The analysis highlights a multidimensional field encompassing music as cultural practice and creative expression; copyright governance; digital rights management; piracy; artificial intelligence and creative innovation; digital platforms and globalization; popular music and identity; the creative economy; and music therapy. Findings show that scholarship is predominantly concentrated on legal enforcement, technological regulation, and digital platform governance, particularly since 2016, while socio-cultural perspectives, contributions from the Global South, and micro-level creator experiences remain underexplored. Artificial intelligence emerges as a transformative area, yet its integration into copyright governance, especially regarding authorship, ownership, and remuneration, remains fragmented. Geographic and co-authorship patterns reveal strong dominance by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, indicating global imbalances in research production and collaboration. The study identifies critical gaps, including limited exploration of algorithmic governance, the need for fair compensation systems in AI-assisted creativity, and the disconnect between policy frameworks and creators’ lived experiences. By synthesizing fragmented scholarship into a coherent framework, this study provides a roadmap for future research, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, inclusive global representation, and human-centered inquiry. In doing so, it offers a timely and integrative perspective on the evolving dynamics of music copyright in a rapidly digital and AI-driven creative economy.
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