A big payday is on its way for anyone who made an album in 1978, which means artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Billy Joel may soon win back control of their bestselling albums. The Copyright Act of 1976 went into effect in 1978, and contracts on recordings could be terminated after 35 years, which means musicians could regain ownership in 2013. But since artists have to apply two years in advance, musicians like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Loretta Lynn, and Tom Waits have already filed to reclaim their 1978 works. Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town, Dylan’s Street Legal, and Waits’ Blue Valentine were all made in 1978.
