It’s not always easy. Soundrop gives you peace of mind, knowing: Your cover song has been properly licensed FOR LIFE; All royalties are being paid correctly FOR LIFE; There’s no annual fee, so your music will be available FOR LIFE; Soundrop simplifies the process of licensing & distributing cover songs. How to clear music rights to stream music online. Answer. We know we have to list all of the original writers and owners of the songs, but what else do we need to do before the album is released? Obtaining a Synch License. You need a mechanical license from the original writer or publisher to record and release cover songs. I figured it would be good practice for the future, and might even be interesting. You bet; if you distribute that cover song without obtaining the licenses, the copyright owners can sue—and some of them will do it in a heartbeat. Therefore, you need a synch license as well as a mechanical license to legally publish a cover song on Youtube (unless the song has fallen into public domain). However, someone may claim they own a song because they may have sung a version of it, such as Amazing Grace for example. Learn more about how royalty rates are determined. When licensing covers that you’ll just offer for free online (streaming or download), you will still need to obtain a license so that the original songwriter(s) get paid. 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. Day 8 - Feeling Joy - It is natural to express our joys, to share our happiness with others. Music Licensing for Streaming. Some songs have not been enabled for this feature by their copyright owner or owners, so this message may not appear for certain claimed cover videos. In the United States, artists and record labels are typically responsible for clearing the right to use cover songs (ie. Does not apply to custom licensing and non-compulsory cover song requests. If the total quantity licensed (of … Apple loops and such are fine. Watch how young children innocently display their happiness and delight. But without help, licensing cover songs can be a huge hassle—the terms are often confusing and time-consuming. Cover songs. Therefore, you need a synch license as well as a mechanical license to legally publish cover songs on YouTube (unless the song has fallen into public domain). The $10 fee-per-cover comes from the royalties earned from the cover song. No samples! Pick the license that fits your needs - choose a standard license or limited license based on how many downloads and streams you’ll receive. Properly license those cover songs — for life. But, this is only for YouTube. Explicit lyrics very rarely are. If you’re releasing a holiday cover song that requires a license, this encompasses next holiday season too. Use this link to get a discount on a new Distrokid account! ‎Cover songs are a great way to build an audience, and with the proper license, you can get paid. It does not cover public performance and display. Covers are a re-recorded version of a song, replacing the original vocals and instrumentation with your own. YouTube uses Content ID and other technologies to identify the music used on the platform. Split revenue with all your collaborators (at no cost) Distribute your cover song today. Do we need to pay royalties to anyone? CD Baby now offers a simple solution that enables musicians to properly license the cover songs they want to distribute. Samples from other artists’ work or copyrighted speeches are not. In December, I recorded a demo of cover songs for distribution to venues, and also as a stocking stuffer for family. Protect yourself from copyright claims on cover songs, without the hassle. Get Started. Earn money when your songs are used in YouTube videos, TV shows, commercials, movies, and video games! Let's assume you aren’t part of some piracy conspiracy, you just “forgot” to obtain licenses for the songs you covered and distributed. How to Make Song Covers on YouTube - What You Need: Ok, first, you need a video editor to edit everything (for Windows, I recommend Windows Movie Maker), whether you want to make a music video or just point the camera at you while you're singing it. To be clear, this is only for cover songs where you record 100% of the audio. The mechanical license covers reproduction and distribution. License your cover songs the easy way. We’ve partnered with Loudr, a San Francisco-based music rights company, to provide cover song licensing solutions to our community of more than 350,000 artists from around the world. https://www.dittomusic.com/blog/what-license-do-i-need-for-my-music But, if you upload a cover music video illegally, it can be removed. If you want to record a song, especially if you plan to make money from it, you may need a mechanical license with the copyright holder. Distribute your music beyond YouTube Music. How do you obtain a synch license? Freedom of Choice. How to Get Rights to Cover a Song. License your cover songs the RIGHT WAY. To cover a song, artists need a mechanical license to distribute music digitally or physically, and a synchronization license if a visual element is added (YouTube video, TV synch, etc.) When purchasing a license, there is no need to purchase one for streams. Those companies are responsible for paying out all royalties to the publishers themselves. 1-800-360-5192. Home / Help center / All topics / Music licensing / What you need / For streaming. Clear Cover Songs Custom Licensing Get Backing Tracks Seal of Authenticity Help Center. Getting a synchronization license and a mechanical license is the only legal way to release cover songs. Therefore, remixed or off-the-wall covers of songs may not be applicable under a compulsory cover license. We have a CCLI license to sing all the contemporary songs and hymns we choose to sing during service, so we are not violating any copyrighted songs. What you need. I’m not completely sure but as far as the songs go you would need some kind of cover licence to make the karaoke versions. How Can a Lawyer Help Me? The compulsory cover license only applies to covers that are consistent with the original rendition of the song. third-party compositions) via a mechanical license. My band is recording an album of cover songs. Cover songs can help singers to build their audience but it may require licensing in certain situations. We've partnered with Royalty Solutions to offer two different pricing options to clear your cover songs. When applying for a license, you’ll have to estimate how many downloads you’ll … LANDR charges a fee of $15 USD for cover song licensing. Everyone loves a cover song. The mechanical license covers reproduction and distribution, but not public performance and display. WATH do not currently clear remixes or videos where the original master recordings are used. Mechanical licenses auto renew. Ian. However, it is important to know the laws regarding cover songs before you start covering other artists. Under copyright law, cover versions cannot change the underlying melody or arrangement. Reply License your music for film, TV, YouTube, and more. There is no way to legally release a cover music video on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter. You DON’T need streaming licenses to distribute your cover song to our streaming partners (i.e. Automatically pay mechanical royalties to the composers. They discuss what you need in order to monetize your cover songs on YouTube. Make a Cover Song: Cover songs have always been popular, ... Cover Song: Getting a Mechanical License. In this episode of the podcast, Rick speaks with Larry Mills from We Are The Hits. We also use these recognition technologies but have ensured that we are not wholly reliant on them. Spotify, Apple Music etc). Our artists are NOT on the hook for royalty payments on those kinds of streams. Fast & Efficient. Songs and/or instrumentals are fine. In the UK, you won’t need any licenses to release a cover song. Next, you … You should own the rights to the tracks you’re submitting. It's a new take on a popular classic, which often makes audiences appreciate different aspects of the music and lyrics. When to get permission. The CCLI license is supposed to cover our authority to play and sing these songs. It covers the use of music whether it is uploaded and licensed by a record label or official content partner such as VEVO, or uploaded by an individual user. Soundrop will distribute your cover songs to the world’s top platforms. As you may have guessed, a vast amount of holiday related music, like the songs below, requires a mechanical license: Releasing cover songs for free. 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. This allows us to pay out the original songwriters and pay for the license. Cover Songs: Performing and Recording Them Legally by Sue Basko See also: Recording a Cover Song: Most Basic Things in Music Law #1 See also: Cover Songs on … As adults we I doubt it as these would normally be covered by the venues (a public performance licence). How do you obtain a synch license? You might also need other licences due to the way that karaoke is performed. Mechanical licenses ensure that your covers are legal to distribute and that everyone who should be getting paid, is getting paid. 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). In case of co-authors, make sure you’re all on the same page and ok to seek out licensing opportunities. They also take a glance at where they feel… Royalty rates for downloads and physical releases are slightly higher for songs over five minutes. Soundrop will distribute your cover song today earn money when your songs are used karaoke is.! Episode of the audio there is no need to purchase one for.! Aspects of the music used on the hook for royalty payments on those of... And physical releases are slightly higher for songs over five minutes only applies covers! 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