Releasing a Cover Song: Mechanical Licenses Explained

The short version

If you want to record and release your own version of someone else's song, you generally need a mechanical license. The good news is that for most covers, you have a legal right to get one, and the process is straightforward. Understanding how mechanical licenses work lets you release covers legally without needing the original songwriter's permission, as long as you follow the rules and pay the required royalty.

Why you need a license for a cover

A cover song uses someone else's composition. Even though you are making your own recording, you are using their song, which is copyrighted. So you need permission on the composition side. What makes covers special is that US law provides a "compulsory mechanical license," meaning that once a song has been commercially released, anyone else can record and release their own version of it, as long as they get a mechanical license and pay the set royalty. The original songwriter cannot say no to a standard cover. This is why there are so many covers: the law specifically allows them.

What the mechanical license covers, and what it does not

It covers. Making and distributing your own audio recording of the song (on streaming, download, physical).

It does not automatically cover. Changing the song fundamentally (a compulsory license lets you make your own arrangement but does not let you alter the basic melody or lyrics or change the character of the song without permission). It also does not cover video. Putting your cover on YouTube or in any video involves synchronization, which is a different license (a sync license) that is not compulsory, meaning you would need the songwriter's permission for that. So an audio-only cover on streaming is covered by a mechanical license; a cover music video is a separate, non-compulsory matter.

How to get a mechanical license for a cover

You do not go to the songwriter directly. Mechanical licenses for covers are typically obtained through services that handle this (there are companies and platforms that issue mechanical licenses for a fee and handle paying the royalties to the songwriter). You tell them the song, they issue the license, you pay the required mechanical royalty rate (set by statute in the US), and you are cleared to release your audio cover. Many indie artists use these services to release covers legally and easily.

The royalty

You pay a mechanical royalty to the songwriter for each copy or stream, at a statutory rate set by law. This is not a negotiation for standard covers; it is a fixed statutory rate. The service you use to get the license typically handles collecting and passing this along.

The common mistake

Releasing a cover with no mechanical license, or putting a cover music video online without dealing with the sync side, are common mistakes. For audio, get the mechanical license (it is easy and your right). For video, understand that you need separate permission that is not guaranteed. Doing it right is not hard and keeps your release clean.

How keysig helps

keysig does not issue mechanical licenses for covers (that is handled by dedicated mechanical licensing services). Where keysig helps is with your own original agreements and documentation. And understanding the mechanical license concept matters for your own songs too: when others cover your music, mechanical royalties flow to you as the songwriter, which is part of why registering your compositions and keeping your splits documented (which keysig helps with) ensures you collect what you are owed when your songs are used.