#How to record a song license
#How to record a song download

#How to record a song license

The Compulsory License and Notice of Intention: This article focuses on the compulsory licensing procedure.

In the U.S., there are three ways to obtain a mechanical license for a cover song: (1) through the compulsory licensing procedure established by law (2) from the Harry Fox Agency if they administer the musical composition for the song or (3) directly from the publisher of the song. The copyright owner of the musical composition is generally called the publisher. In return for a mechanical license to the musical composition, you pay a вЂњmechanical royaltyвЂќ to the copyright owner of the musical composition. However, the license does not grant you any rights to the actual recording of the song you want to cover since that is protected by a separate copyright. A mechanical license is the right to make copies of the songвЂ™s musical structure such as the lyrics and notes, which is called the musical composition. If you want to record and release your own cover version of someone elseвЂ™s song, then youвЂ™ll need a вЂњmechanical licenseвЂќ for your cover song. You must follow these steps BEFORE you make your recording available to the public! If you have recorded a cover version of someone else's song, and you plan to make that recording available to the public in the U.S., the following information applies to you. Please note that the below is not legal advice, we are not your lawyers, and you should always contact your attorney before entering into any contract such as a license. We recommend an agency like Easy Song Licensing to help you with the cover song licensing process.

#How to record a song download

This is because no matter how youвЂ™ve restricted your musicвЂ™s availability by geography or platform, at any point you could elect to widen your distribution to include download platforms within the United States that do not pay mechanicals directly to royalty collection societies. In order to distribute a cover song through CD Baby, you must, at minimum, acquire a mechanical license for downloads.