wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Let that person know you are interested in recording or otherwise performing a song in their catalog. If a song I want to cover cannot be found in any of the resource links provided in this article, does that mean it is public domain? He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. The band that doing a cover of another band MUST HAVE to have a permission from the original writer/singer/band. If you post music for streaming online, such as on YouTube, Bandcamp, or your own web site or blog, make sure to get permission for any songs you did not write, recordings made by other people (such as samples, karaoke tracks, or background … I found out who wrote the song, but I don’t know how to find out if they still have the rights or if I need to get permission from someone else. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The rights to the recording are usually owned by the artist or their record label. Follow us and get more. You get notoriety, can still earn some profit yourself, and the original songwriter/publisher still gets paid as well. Where can I get a license to record a cover song? Not every video creator is willing to go through negotiations with a record label in order to get permission to use just one song. The accounting method for determining when a sale or copy is made, The conditions under which the rights holder can audit your records, The state whose laws will interpret the contract. The name of the copyright holder of the song and the publisher (copyright holder of the recording) will appear on the next screen. Here are some steps you can follow to protect yourself from litigation*: When you plan on releasing covers for free (for example, on Soundcloud) you still need to get permission and/or obtain a license from the original songwriter(s) so they can get properly compensated for the use of their work. I've recorded a cover version of a song and have uploaded it to a music sharing website. Cover songs can help you gain fans, but be sure not to abuse the system. 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. Any special procedures that will be followed in case of a disagreement or breach of the contract. in the search box. If you want to cover a song, go for it. One important thing to note - you won’t need a license if you are releasing a cover song on streaming platforms only. Record of any sales or copies as defined in the licensing agreement, Record of any payments made to the rights holder or other payee as directed by the rights holder. A cover song is a recording of a previously released song that has kept the same composition (lyrics, melody and song … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Get-Rights-to-Cover-a-Song-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rights-to-Cover-a-Song-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Get-Rights-to-Cover-a-Song-Step-1.jpg\/aid6878068-v4-728px-Get-Rights-to-Cover-a-Song-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"