See If I'll Care

The sound recording of Bessie Smith's "See If I'll Care," despite its original fixation in 1930, is currently protected under the Music Modernization Act (MMA). This protection stems from Section 1401(a)(2)(E)(i) of the MMA, which dictates specific terms for sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972. For recordings made in 1930, the MMA grants a protection term of 100 years from the year of first publication. This means the recording will enter the US public domain on January 1, 2031. While the song itself may have been released earlier, the specific sound recording by Bessie Smith would have been created and fixed in 1930. The MMA ensures these historical recordings are not immediately subject to public domain rules that might apply to much older works, recognizing their cultural and historical value. Although the earliest known release date provided is 1993, this likely refers to a re-release or compilation, as Bessie Smith's active recording career was in the 1920s and early 1930s with Columbia Records. Therefore, anyone wishing to use this specific sound recording commercially—for sampling, synchronization, or other uses—would need to seek clearance from the current rights holder, which would likely be Sony Music Entertainment (as the successor to Columbia Records).