Mechanical licensing, in plain English

Yes. You own your recording, but the song belongs to its writers and publishers. Distributing your version requires a mechanical license, and most distributors will not accept a cover without proof of one.

In the U.S., interactive streaming services license compositions through a blanket license administered by The MLC. But many distributors require a download or cover license as their own policy, physical and download sales need their own licenses, and outside the U.S. the rules differ by country.

Music videos (synchronization), samples or any part of the original master, changed lyrics, translations, medleys and mashups, and songs that have never been released. Each of these needs direct permission from the owners.

Not under a standard license. Your arrangement can reflect your style, but the melody and the fundamental character of the work must stay the same. A lyric change or translation needs the publisher’s written approval, which we can request for you.

Our service fee plus the royalties owed to the rights holders. In the U.S. in 2026 the statutory rate for physical and download units is 13.1¢ per song, or 2.52¢ per minute for recordings over five minutes. We quote every line before you commit.

It depends on the song. Clearly owned songs from mainstream catalogs usually move quickly; custom permissions depend on the publisher and can take weeks. We give you a realistic timeline per song when we quote.

No. The standard U.S. compulsory license is limited to the United States. A worldwide release needs licenses territory by territory, or a grant from the publisher that names the territories.

The license ID and provider, the publisher name exactly as licensed, the original songwriter credits and the territories you are licensed for. We deliver all of it in one document per release.

Credit the original songwriters. Keep the original artist out of your artist fields and your title; “Song Title (Cover)” is acceptable, “Cover of Artist” is not.

A public-domain composition doesn’t need a mechanical license; credit it as Traditional or Public Domain. Check, though, that the specific arrangement you are using isn’t a protected modern version.

Usually not through your distributor. On YouTube, the song’s publisher typically claims cover videos, and creators in the YouTube Partner Program may share revenue from eligible covers.

Takedowns, withheld earnings, penalties on your distributor account and possible infringement claims. Licensing before release is far cheaper than fixing it afterwards.