What a cover song license is
A cover is your own recording of a song someone else wrote. You are not using their recording, so you do not need the original label. You do need a license for the composition, which belongs to the songwriters and their publishers.
Which license you need depends on three things. Is it audio only or with video? Are you changing the song? Where are you releasing it?
Audio-only covers in the US: the mechanical license
US copyright law has a compulsory mechanical license for songs, in Section 115. Once a song has been released to the public in the US with the owner's authorization, anyone can record and distribute their own version. You do not need the writer's personal approval. You do need to follow the rules and pay the statutory royalty.
How that works in practice:
- Streaming and downloads. Digital services in the US can use a blanket compulsory license administered by The MLC. They pay mechanical royalties for the songs they make available.
- Your distributor. Many distributors ask you to mark a release as a cover. Some arrange the mechanical license for downloads or physical copies on your behalf. Check what yours covers.
- Physical copies and direct sales. You may need a mechanical license yourself, either from the publisher, through a licensing service, or by serving a Notice of Intention on the copyright owner on time.
The compulsory license covers audio recordings only. The U.S. Copyright Office states that it does not include sound that accompanies a film or other audiovisual work.
Cover videos need a sync license
Putting your cover in a video, such as a music video, a YouTube upload, an ad or a film, is a synchronization use. The compulsory mechanical license does not cover it. You need a sync license from the song's publishers.
Some platforms have agreements with publishers or collecting societies that cover certain user uploads. The scope varies by platform and country. For commercial, branded or paid uses, get a direct sync license.
Changed lyrics and new arrangements need permission
A cover can be arranged to fit your style. It cannot change the core of the song. The U.S. Copyright Office says you need permission to change "the basic melody or fundamental character of the work."
That includes new or translated lyrics, parody lyrics, added verses, or reworking the melody. GEMA follows a similar line. It treats an almost identical version as a cover, which it licenses. A changed version is an arrangement, and GEMA says that permission can only come from the creator or rights holder, not from GEMA.
Covers outside the US
Outside the US, mechanical rights for covers are usually licensed through collecting societies. In Germany, GEMA licenses the musical works no matter who performs them. GEMA states that covering published works "does not require an authorisation" from the writer, as long as it is a true cover and not an arrangement. Other countries have their own societies and rules, so check where you release.
How it works on Clearhly
Clearhly is a marketplace where verified rights-holder businesses, such as labels, publishers, admins, songwriters and artists, list music they control. It is useful when you need direct permission, for example a sync license for a cover video or approval for new lyrics. Clearhly is currently in private beta.
- Send a license request. Describe your cover, any changes to lyrics or arrangement, and where it will appear.
- Negotiate terms with the rights holder.
- E-sign the license on the platform.
- Pay through Stripe. Payment is held for 14 days before it is paid out to the rights holder.
Every rights holder on Clearhly goes through business verification and confirms, for each listing and share, that they own or control the rights they license. Your license is a contract directly between you and the rights holder. The full legal terms are in the Terms of Service.
What affects the price
- Audio-only US mechanicals follow a statutory per-copy rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board. The rate is not negotiated for compulsory licenses.
- Sync licenses for cover videos are negotiated. Price depends on the type of video, whether it is commercial, the media, the territory and the term.
- Arrangement or lyric permissions are negotiated. Owners may refuse, ask for a fee, or ask for approval of the final version.
- The song's profile. Well-known songs often come with stricter terms.
- Number of owners. A song with several publishers means several approvals.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to release a cover song?
For a straight audio cover in the US, you do not need the songwriter's personal approval, but you do need a mechanical license and must pay royalties. In many other countries, such as Germany, the collecting society licenses unchanged covers.
Can I upload a cover song to Spotify?
Yes, if the mechanical side is covered. In the US, streaming services pay mechanical royalties through The MLC's blanket license, and many distributors handle cover licensing for other formats when you mark the release as a cover.
Do I need a license to post a cover on YouTube?
A cover video pairs the song with video, which is a sync use and is not covered by the compulsory mechanical license. Some platforms have deals with publishers or collecting societies for user uploads, but for commercial or branded videos you should get a sync license.
Can I change the lyrics of a cover song?
Not without permission. The US compulsory license does not let you change the basic melody or fundamental character of the song, and GEMA treats changed works as arrangements that need the rights holder's consent.
How much does a cover song license cost?
In the US, the mechanical royalty for physical copies and downloads is a statutory per-copy rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board. Sync and arrangement permissions have no set rate and are negotiated.
Do I need a license to perform a cover song live?
Live performance is a public performance, which venues usually license from collecting societies such as ASCAP, BMI or GEMA. Recording and releasing that performance needs separate licenses.