4 Ways to Celebrate Music on World IP Day

This year’s World IP Day invites us to explore how intellectual property (IP) rights and innovation policies empower creators, innovators and entrepreneurs to bring fresh ideas to the music industry.

From music copyrights to royalties, intellectual property is a cornerstone of the music industry and can support artists as they bring you your favorite songs and lead you to discover new ones. Read on to find fun tips for celebrating 2025 World IP Day.

Create a Playlist

Music can inspire us to create remarkable inventions and spread important ideas. Create a #WorldIPDay playlist with songs that spark your creativity! As you enjoy your playlist, look up the science behind your favorite songs. You also can give extra support for artists who have fought for ownership of their original music. What kind of music makes you feel the beat of IP?

Explore STEAM Careers

There are many STEAM careers connected to the music industry, from sound engineering to music production and journalism! Learn what technical skills professionals in the music industry use to compose and record music.

Make a DIY Instrument

The world of brand recognition and marketing is essential to the industry, so embrace the spirit of entrepreneurship! Consider trying a STEM activity that involves creating your own instrument. You also can put your creativity into action by dreaming up new inventions to push the music industry forward. As innovators of all ages create, they’re simultaneously uncovering the importance of building an innovative identity and protecting their rights as creators.

Celebrate Music Pioneers

Did you know that several National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees have made major music industry innovations? Here a just a few of the Inductees who have contributed to the sounds you love:

James West and Gerhard Sessler

Advancing the sound industry, Inductees Jim West and Gerhard Sessler co-invented the electret microphone at Bell Labs. This compact, inexpensive and highly sensitive microphone has become the standard microphone used in products from music recording equipment to hearing aid devices. In fact, of the 2 billion microphones manufactured each year, 90% are electret microphones.

Robert A. Moog

Inductee Bob Moog introduced the first complete voltage controlled modular synthesizer, an instrument capable of producing a wide variety of electronic sounds. The Moog® synthesizer helped revolutionize the face of music by giving artists and composers the ability to create a brand-new palette of sounds.

Les Paul

Inductee Les Paul introduced the world to the solid-body electric guitar, a pioneering instrument that transformed popular music. He also made recording breakthroughs such as sound-on-sound recording, overdubbing, reverb effects, echo chambers and multitrack tape recorders. Paul's work has inspired generations of musicians to embrace innovative instruments and recording techniques.

Peter C. Goldmark

Inductee Peter Goldmark, an engineer for CBS Laboratories, invented the long-playing (LP) record, making it possible to listen to entire symphonic movements and other long pieces of music without interruption. The LP dominated the recorded music industry for decades and is still popular among music lovers.

Follow More Trends in STEM

With the ability to protect their work, the artists who bring music to our lives continue to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers. Keep reading trending stories on our blog to learn more about IP.