Always double check if you suspect the song you wish to use is in the public domain; you need to establish who created the work, and when they died. Scroll down to find out more about paying royalties on a cover song if you plan on distributing it or uploading to social media channels. In the UK, a mechanical licence is required in order for you to record and distribute physical copies of your cover song. The content in this article is just a general overview of the topic and should not be considered legal advice. Learn more about our privacy policy, Best suited for artists who intend to sell more than 500 digital downloads (units), Pay-as-you-go processing fees assessed quarterly, Best suited for artists who intend to sell less than 500 digital downloads (units), Pre-pay all fees, even if units are unsold, Re-licensing, converting to a Standard License, or ending the sale of the download is required once 500 units are sold. ), most other uses of copyrighted music (such as the use of a cover song on an album) will require a bit more legwork and, to be on the safe side, you should get your cover song licences in place before you start working with any cover material to save yourself the stress of your hard-work being thwarted by music copyright complications later on. You DON’T need streaming licenses to distribute your cover song to our streaming partners (i.e. A "cover song" is a song that you performed & recorded yourself, but the music was written by someone else. Songs are covered by two separate types of copyright: one for the specific recording, and another which protects the underlying lyrics and musical composition. This increase is reflected in the prices below. Great site to get a mechanical license and find those hard to reach music producers to get clearance on popular cover songs. Properly license those cover songs — for life. Spotify, Apple Music etc). Do I need a licence to perform cover songs in a competition? Therefore, if a song hasn’t been commercially released as a record then you can’t get a compulsory license. For example, when your band plays "Smooth Criminal" (written by Michael Jackson). Easily obtain 100% of the rights you need to release any cover song in 1-2 business days. Our partner—Easy Song Licensing—can help you get a mechanical license for your cover songs. Nobody seems prepared to provide this information. Do I need a licence to perform cover songs live? By continuing to navigate this website, we’ll assume you agree to this. If it is, you are free to release the cover as the store will organise that the correct mechanical royalty is paid to CSI. The easiest way to look at mechanical royalties is to think about a … We’ll make sure your license never expires. Therefore, posting cover songs on Facebook could cause your video to be removed and you may risk losing your Facebook page. A mechanical license is an agreement between a music user and the owner of a copyrighted composition (song), that grants permission to release the song in an audio-only format (interactive audio streams, digital downloads, CDs, vinyl). This is totally okay—DistroKid makes it easy and legal to sell cover songs. Share your music and earn revenue while meeting the legal requirements of covering a song. If not, you must contact the publisher or copyright holder for that song to apply for a mechanical license. Has posting cover songs on YouTube benefited your career? One-time fee, lifetime of licensing coverage For a one-time fee of $9.99 per cover song, we will: Secure your cover song license, forever Manually inspect your audio, cover art, and metadata to make sure it meets all DSP guidelines Protect yourself from copyright claims on cover songs, without the hassle. Instead, it is the responsibility of the venue to make sure that any necessary licences are in place. We use cookies on this website to enhance your user experience, By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Home >> Advice >> Cover Song Licensing Guide: Permission, Costs, & Royalties. YouTube will simply pay royalties to the publishers from the monies collected through ads displayed on your video. If you are recording your own song, or a song that is considered public domain, you wouldn’t need to obtain a mechanical license for it. If you want to license more than 250 units including the sound recordings, a PPL authorisation code … This is providing you have already declared the video as a YouTube cover song through the Content ID system. Royalty Solutions offers the music clearance services you need. However, you will need to acquire a Mechanical License for sales in North America. That means if you were to then sell 1,000 CDs with the cover song on it, it would cost you $91. In most audio-only cases (the production of CDs, vinyl etcetera) an AP1 or AP2 mechanical licence will be sufficient. Now, if the artist/band wants to create a promotional music video based on the cover song, this requires license(s) as well, except that the license required is called a synchronization license. Is it necessary to get licenses to release cover songs if I plan to only release them on Spotify? Great site to get a mechanical license and find those hard to reach music producers to get clearance on popular cover songs. This is done by getting permission from the rightsholder and in the UK, this is through MCPS. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website, assess how you use our website and for website security purposes. "So, if you’re just going to release a cover song on YouTube but won’t be selling it, you don't need to obtain mechanical license. Get the licenses which let you record and release the original composition. *The mechanical license provided by Royalty Solutions only covers digital downloads. However, it will cost if you plan on recording the cover version and then offering it for sale on a download website or as part of a physical CD or album product. However, it is important to know the laws regarding cover songs before you start covering other artists. The reason that is it called a Mechanical Licence is that it refers to physical copies of a song, such as a vinyl record and or a CD (DVDs and Video tapes). So, do you need a licence to do cover songs? Some original copyright owners are happy to see their songs covered and uploaded to YouTube by new artists. Distributing recordings of cover songs on sound-only streaming platforms, like Spotify and iTunes will also require a mechanical licence. Not for resale. To date, Facebook does not have a way to compensate the copyright holder(s). Quick and Easy. posting cover songs on Facebook could cause your video to be removed, songs whose writer died more than seventy years ago, live performances of cover songs are the responsibility of the venue, YouTube cover songs will likely be sorted by their Content ID system. The statutory rate does not apply, as the license fee would need to be negotiated with the copyright owner in … Easily obtain 100% of the rights you need to release any cover song in 1-2 business days. This is always down to the copyright holder(s). A mechanical is any song recording, including vinyl, CDs, or digital downloads. The explosion of social media networks and music publishing platforms such as SoundCloud and YouTube has led to an increase in cover song licensing requests, and singers seeking permission to cover songs they plan on releasing. But without help, licensing cover songs can be a huge hassle—the terms are often confusing and time-consuming. Previously, this could cause your video to be taken-down and repeat offenders risked losing their account altogether. A mechanical license for cover songs gives you the right to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted song on a permanent digital download.*. Make sure you are set-up to receive performance royalties. Now, if the artist/band wants to create a promotional music video based on the cover song, this requires license(s) as well, except that the license required is called a synchronization license. Songfile is the quick and easy way to license cover songs for physical and digital formats such as CDs, downloads, ringtones and interactive streams. 3. There also needs to be a public release of the first recording. Clear cover songs now. The song’s copyright owner must give you a mechanical license if you pay a royalty fee based on estimated revenue from your cover song. Whether you are new to publishing or you’ve got decades of hits under your belt, HFA is here to help you with mechanical licensing and collecting the royalties you’re due. Mechanical Licensing for Cover Songs: If you’ve recorded a version of another artist’s song and you plan to distribute it online, you’ll need a mechanical license. This is totally okay—DistroKid makes it easy and legal to sell cover songs. As the musician, you normally won’t need to acquire a licence before you do a live performance of a cover song. If you’re a small service, then our entry-level Limited Online Music Licence (LOML) could be for you. A mechanical license for cover songs gives you the right to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted song on a permanent digital download. Almost all copyright music in the UK will be registered with PRS for Music. Performances in the UK are covered by a venue’s PRS license but cover songs will need their own license. As a result, uploading cover songs to Facebook direct to their platform is not tolerated. MECHANICAL LICENSE: The license to record and sell a cover song is called a mechanical license. Is there a European standard for royalty fees and covering songs? Clear any cover song in 1-2 business days. We Now Offer Proof Of License! Powered by the largest database of music compositions matched to sound recordings, HFA connects music users and rightsholders to get royalties to music creators. All the information I read states that you need a licence to record and distribute for sale or publish publicly. Therefore, to find a solution to this, YouTube has made arrangements to compensate the copyright holders and now implements a ‘Content ID system‘ that searches for and recognises videos which contain audio similar to known copyrighted material. We've partnered with Royalty Solutions to offer two different pricing options to clear your cover songs. If you have created a recording of a song that was written, recorded, and previously released by another artist, this is classified as a cover song. However, if you wish to use copyrighted songs in a video, a synchronisation licence is necessary. You may have to find, contact and negotiate with the right's holder directly. 30 Music Industry Terms Every Musician Should Know, Open Mic Manchester – The Top 10 Best Nights Near Me, 9 Simple Tricks to Learn Song Lyrics With Ease, Registered in England & Wales | Future Productions Limited. Almost all copyright music in the UK will be registered with PRS for Music. Let us know in the comments below. If the song is not on the PRS for Music database, this does not mean that it isn’t covered by UK copyright law. For example, selling CDs, as well as digital downloads. Find information about mechanical licencing here: PRS for Music: Retail Audio Products. If you only plan on covering the song live at a gig, you won’t have any legal concerns. The MLA is the standard agreement entered into between CMRRA and record labels doing business in Canada on an ongoing basis. You will have to pay a royalty to the publisher (which ultimately goes to the writer of the song you've covered) on … Split revenue with all your collaborators (at no cost) Distribute your cover song today. Not always. A "cover song" is a song that you performed & recorded yourself, but the music was written by someone else. In December, I recorded a demo of cover songs for distribution to venues, and also as a stocking stuffer for family. This means that the owner of the song’s copyright has an obligation to give you a license. You can use the MCPS PRS database to look this up, or the Harry Fox Agency’s Songfile.This information will be required on some forms to get the correct licensing, and on materials you send to radio. Loudr and Easy Song Licensing are independent services that charge a small service fee (about $15 per song) to secure a mechanical license for any song that you’d like to cover. Important: derivative works, including works that contain samples, cannot be cleared through a compulsory … TIP: Master licenses can be a little trickier to obtain compared to Mechanical licenses. Mechanical Licenses for the sale and distribution of cover songs. How to Improve Timing When Singing | How Do Singers Improve Their Timing? For more information, see: How YouTube Content ID Works. You can check if CSI cover a song license by searching either CMRRA’s or SODRAC’s repertoires. Do pay the Rights’s Owner or publisher mechanical license royalties in any case. Sampling is a completely separate copyright matter. Our experts will get you licensed and ready for your release! Those companies are responsible for paying out all royalties to the publishers themselves. Best practices for creating and uploading a cover version – SoundCloud Help Center. You need a mechanical license from the original writer or publisher to record and release cover songs. Mechanical rights or a mechanical license must be obtained in order to lawfully make and distribute records, CDs and tapes. It can help increase the exposure of the original artist’s music. In many cases, the copyright holder will choose to place adverts on the YouTube video and collect the associated revenue. Hallo, I am a hobby guitarist and singer and upload a few covers to Soundcloud as well as old folk songs. Covers, cover songs or cover versions, are performances or recordings of an existing song by someone other than the original performing artist. Clear cover songs now. Quick answer: You can, but there are some risks to posting cover songs on YouTube. You need a mechanical license if you are planning on recording a song whose rights are owned by a publisher. This means that the license won’t cover music videos or videos of you performing the cover. Uploading video cover songs on Facebook (directly), without the necessary licences (both mechanical and synchronisation), is in breach of their terms and conditions. A mechanical license is not required for artists who record and distribute completely original work. How to Sell Music on iTunes UK – Sell Your Songs! For example, when your band plays "Smooth Criminal" (written by Michael Jackson). Physical product and downloads: $0.091 (9.1 cents) per unit for songs that are five minutes and under in length or $0.0175 (1.75 cents) per minute or fraction thereof, … The idea of mechanical licenses came about the turn of the 19th century, with the popularity of player pianos, with the ability to play songs encoded on a roll of paper. The copyright for a particular recording is held by the producer of that sound recording (probably a record label), whereas the rights to the underlying song will be in the hands of the songwriter, or their publisher. For example if I recorded my own cover of blink 182s "what's my age again" and credit the original authors in the Metadata, do I need to buy a mechanical license to release it exclusively on Spotify We will cover everything you need to know about music copyright in the UK, licensing and copyrighting a song and how the law affects singers, musicians and other creators. A mechanical is any song recording, including vinyl, CDs, or digital downloads. YouTube but won’t be selling it, you don't need to obtain mechanical license. How do you get your cover songs out for the world to hear legally and make money from it too. Quick and Easy. (323) 776-6475. TIP: Master licenses can be a little trickier to obtain compared to Mechanical licenses. Like to clarify about TV as you didn’t really get into that. Royalty Solutions is a partner that provides mechanical licenses for TuneCore distributed tracks through TuneLicensing.com. By law, YouTube cannot give you the rights to publish covers of copyrighted songs on their platform. Another condition is that the license is for a recording only. Why? If you are considering legally recording another artist’s song, here are some steps you should think about first. To license a cover version, first find out the composers and publishers of your cover tune. Request a mechanical license within minutes and you’ll be good to go in a matter of days. Remixes. By requesting a mechanical license, you are ensuring that the original creator of the song is getting their fair share of the sales of the cover. Mechanical License for the USA and Canada: Grants the licensee the right to reproduce an underlying composition for the purpose of phonographic sales (ie downloads, CDs, vinyl, etc.) First steps – find the composer and publisher. And there’s a good reason why; some very large artists gained popularity and exposure by first publishing cover versions to get discovered. All of this is awesome for music releases, but there are additional things to consider when releasing a song … The statutory rate does not apply, as the license fee would need to be negotiated with the copyright owner in all instances. I would. These two licences might be held by different people or organisations, even for the same song. Registration No: 958290632 Winsor Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 9HQ. While there are some exceptions to this (such as public domain works), the golden rule is a common guideline that can helpful in determining what rights need to be licensed and how to obtain them. Cover Song Licensing. Master licenses are different to mechanical licenses as they cover the actual sound recording of a song, rather than the composition, lyrics & melody. However, some copyright owners object to unlicensed covers. You do not need permission to cover a song live. Get a mechanical license to release your cover song on CD, tape, vinyl, or as a digital download. Record, engineer, and master the recordings; Assignment using ISRC and UPC codes. Copyright is attributed to the original songwriter whenever a song is written or recorded, provided that there is tangible evidence. This is where you need to go to acquire the mechanical licence for a song. MECHANICAL LICENSE: The license to record and sell a cover song is called a mechanical license. You will need an additional license if you choose to physically distribute your cover song. Powered by the largest database of music compositions matched to sound recordings, HFA connects music users and rightsholders to get royalties to music creators. What is a Mechanical License? Do you share cover songs on YouTube? It isn’t compulsory to grant a mechanical license when there is no previous recorded version of a song. Company registered Office: Lumsden Avenue, Southampton SO15 5EL, https://www.openmicuk.co.uk/advice/do-you-need-a-licence-to-do-cover-songs/. Royalty Solutions keeps track of your license to make sure everyone gets their fair share of every sale. This allows the owner of the copyright to make a judgement based on the content of the new video. However, this is providing the use of the song falls under a certain set of conditions. There are two cover song licensing services which let you apply for a license to record a cover song. Soundrop will distribute your cover songs to the world’s top platforms. Music copyright law is important for every singer and musician who want to know how to copyright a song. Based on the length of each song and the number of units you plan to sell, songfile.com then computes a fee based upon the statutory mechanical royalty rate- the money collected for each sale of your cover version that goes directly to the song's writer and publisher (often … Give us a call and we can help you with your questions and custom licensing needs. We’ve gone into this in more detail in our article on covering songs at an open mic night and discuss this matter further down in this guide. The mechanical license only covers the audio portion of your YouTube cover. However, it is safer to embed the YouTube video on Facebook rather than posting the video of the cover song on Facebook directly. History. CD Baby no longer licenses cover songs directly, but we'll continue to support and pay mechanical royalties for all tracks that were previously licensed through our cover song licensing service. Bear in mind a song might have more than one creator, and it will only enter the public domain seventy years after the death of the last original creator. Mechanical royalties are paid by whoever obtains a mechanical license to reproduce and distribute a piece of music, such as in album form or as ringtone, digital download, or interactive stream. Cover Song Licensing Services What is a mechanical license? Last week Loudr announced that they are making it super easy for artists to obtain a mechanical license to (legally) release cover songs through any digital distributor (not just them). However, musicians don’t need a license to cover a song live, it is the responsibility of the venue. Even if you don’t stand to profit from your release—you still need a mechanical license to release your cover song. I don’t make anything from it just enjoy sharing. Since I technically needed a mechanical license for each of the songs I was recording, I decided to go through the whole process of obtaining the licenses. How would we go about finding out where to license all of these… Read more », What licence do I need if I wish to record a cover song to share with family and friends only? From 4 January 2011, UK VAT increases to 20%. 7 Loss of Singing Voice Causes: Get Your Voice Back! Copyright law protects the rights of the original artist, to ensure that they receive due recognition and payment for their creative property. You will need an additional license if you choose to physically distribute your cover song. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. License your song. Whether you are new to publishing or you’ve got decades of hits under your belt, HFA is here to help you with mechanical licensing and collecting the royalties you’re due. You can read my article on Digital Music News about it here.Harry Fox Agency (HFA) as most of you know, has been doing this for years via their service Songfile. How you intend to use another musician’s song will dictate whether or not you need a licence and, if you do, what type of licence you need to obtain before you can legitimately cover the song. Cover song licences for the vast majority of music in the UK can be obtained from PRS for Music — and their affiliated organisations — who ensure that original creators receive the royalties. I’m guessing that the answer is no – which is about as much as I know after trying to find out over the last few months. Clear any cover song in 1-2 business days. My band has been asked to do a live concert performance to be broadcast on TV. Thanks for help. For example, selling CDs, as well as digital downloads. Our artists are NOT on the hook for royalty payments on those kinds of streams. No matter how unique and different your version is, someone else legally owns the song and is therefore entitled to royalties. Visit the following websites for more information: It costs nothing to cover a song when singing it live. Quick answer: Don’t post cover songs on Facebook! It’s when you record and publish the song that cover song licensing issues can arise. Remixes use elements of the original recording, but change the arrangement, melody, style or genre of the song. The rights owner of a song has the right to control who makes the first record. Failing to meet these standards could result in your account could be permanently terminated. Videos that are uploaded directly appear to gain more exposure compared to videos embedded from other platforms. COVER SONG A cover song is any new performance or recording of a song that was previously written, recorded, and released by someone else. However, you always should comply with the proper UK cover song licencing procedure. In the UK, a mechanical licence is required in order for you to record and distribute physical copies of your cover song. In the UK, you won’t need any licenses to release a cover song. Print License: Gives you the right to print lyrics or notes in a book, magazine, ebook or other publication. You don’t need to obtain a licence to perform a cover song in music competitions such as Open Mic UK and TeenStar. TheMusicLicences are controlled and obtained from PPL and PRS for Music, who collect and distribute royalties to the rightful copyright owners. You also can’t make any major changes to the lyrics or melody but there is an allowance to make your own interpretations of the performance. You will have to pay a royalty to the publisher (which ultimately goes to the writer of the song you've covered) on the amount you manufacture, not the amount you sell. Experts will get you licensed and ready for your cover tune – sell your songs and we help. Royalties to the world to hear legally and make money from it.... How YouTube content ID Works you won ’ t make anything from it just sharing. Song '' is a partner that provides mechanical licenses for the world to hear legally and make money from too! 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