This year’s Public Domain Day 2026 (January 1st ) added to the U.S. public domain for musicians, composers, producers, educators, and independent creators. A group of musical compositions from 1930 and sound recordings from 1925 became free to use, perform, adapt, and build on.

It includes influential works in American pop music and jazz history that still influence harmony, melody, and lyrical structure across genres. George and Ira Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm enters the public domain in its written form, unlocking the source of “rhythm changes,” a foundational harmonic framework in jazz improvisation and composition. It also includes standards like Georgia on My Mind, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Body and Soul, and On the Sunny Side of the Street, all songs that have been reinterpreted for decades across jazz, pop, soul, film, and television. Now, artists can record new versions, adapt lyrics or melodies, interpolate harmonic ideas, and incorporate these works into new creative projects without licensing fees.

It is important to note the difference between compositions and recordings. Though the music and lyrics themselves are now free to use, many later recordings of these songs remain under copyright. A separate group of historically significant sound recordings from 1925 also enters the public domain in 2026, giving direct access to early blues, jazz, and popular music performances.

Which Musical Compositions from 1930 are Entering the Public Domain in 2026?

Musical compositions from 1930 entering the public domain in 2026 are:

I Got Rhythm
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin
I’ve Got a Crush on You
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin
But Not for Me
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin
Embraceable You
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin

Georgia on My Mind
Lyrics by Stuart Gorrell, music by Hoagy Carmichael
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Lyrics by Gus Kahn, music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt
Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight
Lyrics by Al Lewis, music by Al Sherman
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields, music by Jimmy McHugh
It Happened in Monterey
Lyrics by Billy Rose, music by Mabel Wayne
Body and Soul
Lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton, music by Johnny Green
Just a Gigolo (first English translation)
Original German lyrics by Julius Brammer, English translation by Irving Caesar, music by Leonello Casucci
You’re Driving Me Crazy
Lyrics and music by Walter Donaldson
Beyond the Blue Horizon
Lyrics by Leo Robin, music by Richard A. Whiting and W. Franke Harling
The Royal Welch Fusiliers
By John Philip Sousa

Which Sound Recordings from 1925 are Entering the Public Domain in 2026?

Sound recordings from 1925 entering the public domain in 2026 are:

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
Recorded by Marian Anderson
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby
Recorded by Gene Austin
Sweet Georgia Brown
Recorded by Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
You’ve Been A Good Old Wagon
Recorded by Bessie Smith
The St. Louis Blues
Recorded by Bessie Smith, featuring Louis Armstrong
Fascinating Rhythm
Recorded by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra
I’ll See You in My Dreams
Recorded by Isham Jones, with Ray Miller’s Orchestra
Everybody Loves My Baby (But My Baby Don’t Love Nobody but Me)
Recorded by Clarence Williams’ Blue Five
If I Lose, Let Me Lose (Mama Don’t Mind)
Recorded by Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, and Maggie Jones
A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich and You
Recorded by the Carleton Terrace Orchestra
Manhattan
Recorded by The Knickerbockers (Ben Selvin and his Orchestra)

Now these compositions and recordings can be freely studied, sampled, reinterpreted, rearranged, and revived by music creators to keep the music of the early 20th century informing and inspiring new work well into the future. Be sure to consult with legal counsel to clarify any confusion and avoid potential issues. Learn more at Duke University School of Law: Public Domain Day 2026.