However, YouTube has recently changed how they operate. This means that the license won’t cover music videos or videos of you performing the cover. Thanks for help. *The mechanical license provided by Royalty Solutions only covers digital downloads. Like to clarify about TV as you didn’t really get into that. Our experts will get you licensed and ready for your release! For example, selling CDs, as well as digital downloads. Music copyright law is important for every singer and musician who want to know how to copyright a song. Has posting cover songs on YouTube benefited your career? Almost all copyright music in the UK will be registered with PRS for Music. The MLA is the standard agreement entered into between CMRRA and record labels doing business in Canada on an ongoing basis. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Sampling is a completely separate copyright matter. 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. These two licences might be held by different people or organisations, even for the same song. Request a mechanical license within minutes and you’ll be good to go in a matter of days. Is it necessary to get licenses to release cover songs if I plan to only release them on Spotify? You’ll need a license for that. Therefore, if a song hasn’t been commercially released as a record then you can’t get a compulsory license. But without help, licensing cover songs can be a huge hassle—the terms are often confusing and time-consuming. You will need an additional license if you choose to physically distribute your cover song. Some original copyright owners are happy to see their songs covered and uploaded to YouTube by new artists. Royalty Solutions offers the music clearance services you need. Hi, thanks for this article. Cover songs can help singers to build their audience but it may require licensing in certain situations. If you’re a small service, then our entry-level Limited Online Music Licence (LOML) could be for you. As the musician, you normally won’t need to acquire a licence before you do a live performance of a cover song. What are your experiences? Copyright is attributed to the original songwriter whenever a song is written or recorded, provided that there is tangible evidence. That said, the copyright holder could choose to mute or even take down the video — though this is rarer in recent years. In the UK, a mechanical licence is required in order for you to record and distribute physical copies of your cover song. What is a Mechanical License? Failing to meet these standards could result in your account could be permanently terminated. "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. 7 Loss of Singing Voice Causes: Get Your Voice Back! The mechanical license only covers the audio portion of your YouTube cover. Our artists are NOT on the hook for royalty payments on those kinds of streams. Distribute as CD’s, vinyl records, and digital downloads; Register the remake cover song with a PRO so you can also receive royalties. (323) 776-6475. 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. UK music copyright law protects the literary... Read more ». If you want to license more than 250 units including the sound recordings, a PPL authorisation code … 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. All of this is awesome for music releases, but there are additional things to consider when releasing a song … On the Songfile website, they say the current cost for a mechanical license (e.g recording a cover song) is 9.1 cents per track. 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. Quick answer: Don’t post cover songs on Facebook! You may have to find, contact and negotiate with the right's holder directly. Company registered Office: Lumsden Avenue, Southampton SO15 5EL, https://www.openmicuk.co.uk/advice/do-you-need-a-licence-to-do-cover-songs/. Cover Song Licensing Services What is a mechanical license? This allows the owner of the copyright to make a judgement based on the content of the new video. Powered by the largest database of music compositions matched to sound recordings, HFA connects music users and rightsholders to get royalties to music creators. Distributing recordings of cover songs on sound-only streaming platforms, like Spotify and iTunes will also require a mechanical licence. History. 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. 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. In many cases, the copyright holder will choose to place adverts on the YouTube video and collect the associated revenue. The LM licence has a capped limit of 250 units for PPL sound recordings. If you intend to use copyrighted material as an audio-recording only: CD or digital stream, you’ll need a mechanical licence. Easily obtain 100% of the rights you need to release any cover song in 1-2 business days. License your 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. Not always. 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. Many artists don’t know that sharing a video of a cover song on YouTube, without proper licensing, is in breach of UK copyright law. Get an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) to distinguish your cover version from anybody else’s. MECHANICAL LICENSE: The license to record and sell a cover song is called a mechanical license. Master licenses are different to mechanical licenses as they cover the actual sound recording of a song, rather than the composition, lyrics & melody. It can help increase the exposure of the original artist’s music. 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). Royalty Solutions keeps track of your license to make sure everyone gets their fair share of every sale. A mechanical is any song recording, including vinyl, CDs, or digital downloads. Uploading video cover songs on Facebook (directly), without the necessary licences (both mechanical and synchronisation), is in breach of their terms and conditions. Learn how it works > Licensing Questions. A new recording of an existing song requires a cover song license, referred to as a compulsory mechanical license. Quick and Easy. By law, YouTube cannot give you the rights to publish covers of copyrighted songs on their platform. You DON’T need streaming licenses to distribute your cover song to our streaming partners (i.e. Properly license those cover songs — for life. * *The mechanical license provided by Royalty Solutions only covers digital downloads. Clear cover songs now. Cover Song Licensing. DistroKid will obtain the required compulsory mechanical license for you. How to Improve Timing When Singing | How Do Singers Improve Their Timing? A mechanical right is the right to record and distribute (without visual images) a song on a phonorecord for private use. 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. Like most forms of intellectual property, copyright, and large automobiles — if you don’t own or control it, you need a license to use it. Quick answer: You can, but there are some risks to posting cover songs on YouTube. Make sure you are set-up to receive performance royalties. 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). COVER SONG A cover song is any new performance or recording of a song that was previously written, recorded, and released by someone else. A mechanical license for cover songs gives you the right to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted song on a permanent digital download. YouTube but won’t be selling it, you don't need to obtain mechanical license. Visit the following websites for more information: It costs nothing to cover a song when singing it live. 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 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. Master licenses are different to mechanical licenses as they cover the actual sound recording of a song, rather than the composition, lyrics & melody. However, this is providing the use of the song falls under a certain set of conditions. Recreating an existing song in your own style can be great fun and a rewarding career move. 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. All the information I read states that you need a licence to record and distribute for sale or publish publicly. We Now Offer Proof Of License! 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. Do I need a licence to perform cover songs live? 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). Spotify, Apple Music etc). 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. If you only plan on covering the song live at a gig, you won’t have any legal concerns. However, some copyright owners object to unlicensed covers. 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