Mechanical License for Cover Songs: How to Get One
For Artists
A mechanical license grants you the legal right to record and distribute your own version of someone else's song. If you release a cover without one, you are distributing an unlicensed reproduction of a copyrighted composition. That exposes you to takedowns, legal claims, and lost revenue.
Cover songs are one of the most reliable growth strategies for independent artists. A well-chosen cover introduces your voice to an existing audience. But the legal step between "I want to record this" and "I can release this" is a mechanical license. Skip it and the original songwriter's publisher can issue a takedown, claim your revenue, or pursue statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringement.
The good news: the process is simple, affordable, and largely automated. This guide walks through the full licensing path, from choosing a service to distributing the final recording.
For broader context on how mechanical royalties work, see Music Copyright Basics. For the full release strategy around covers, see Cover Song Release Strategy.
What a Mechanical License Covers
A mechanical license gives you the right to reproduce and distribute someone else's composition in a new recording. It covers:
Streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and all DSPs
Permanent digital downloads
Physical copies (CDs, vinyl, cassettes)
It does not cover:
Changing the lyrics (that requires a separate derivative work license or direct permission from the publisher)
Using the original recording (that would require a master license from the master owner)
Synchronizing the cover to video (that requires a sync license)
Performing the cover live (covered by venue blanket licenses, not mechanical licenses)
The license applies to your recording of their composition. You own the master of your cover. The original songwriter earns mechanical royalties on every reproduction.
The Compulsory License Right
US copyright law includes a compulsory mechanical license provision. Once a song has been publicly released, anyone can record and distribute a cover version by obtaining a compulsory license. The copyright holder cannot refuse. This is a statutory right, not a favor.
The conditions: you must pay the statutory rate, you cannot change the fundamental character of the song (no altered lyrics or radical rearrangement that creates a derivative work), and you must follow the proper notice and accounting procedures.
In practice, most artists use licensing services that handle the compulsory license paperwork rather than filing directly with the Copyright Office.
How to Get a Mechanical License: Step by Step
Step 1: Identify the Song and Publisher
Find out who controls the composition copyright. ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC all have searchable databases on their websites. Search the song title and writer name. The results will show the publisher(s) who administer the composition.
Step 2: Choose a Licensing Service
Three main options:
Service | Cost per Song | What It Covers | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Harry Fox Agency (via Songfile) | $16.80 + statutory royalties | Physical, download, and interactive streaming | Artists who want direct licensing |
Easy Song Licensing | $15 + statutory royalties | Physical, download, streaming | Simple interface, quick turnaround |
DistroKid (cover song licensing) | $12/year per song | Streaming only | DistroKid users releasing digital-only covers |
The statutory royalty rate is 12.40 cents per copy for songs five minutes or under. For streaming, the rate is calculated differently (pool-based), but the licensing services handle that accounting for you.
Some distributors bundle cover licensing into the upload process. DistroKid, for example, lets you flag a release as a cover during upload and handles the license for an annual fee. TuneCore offers a similar option. Check your distributor's features before paying for a separate service.
Step 3: Complete the Application
You will need:
Song title and original songwriter(s)
Your name and contact information
Planned distribution format (streaming, physical, download)
Estimated number of copies (for physical releases)
Your release date
The service confirms the license, usually within a few business days. Some are near-instant for digital-only releases.
Step 4: Release and Report
Once licensed, distribute your cover through your normal distributor. The licensing service handles royalty accounting and payment to the original songwriter's publisher. Some services require periodic sales reporting; others pull data from streaming platforms automatically.
What Happens If You Release Without a License
The consequences are real, not hypothetical.
Takedown. The publisher can file a DMCA takedown with every platform hosting your cover. Your song gets pulled from Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere else.
Revenue claim. If you have been earning from the unlicensed cover, the publisher can claim all past revenue.
Statutory damages. Under US copyright law, statutory damages for willful infringement are up to $150,000 per work. This is unlikely for a small independent release, but the legal exposure exists.
Distributor action. Most distributors include terms of service requiring proper licensing for cover songs. Releasing unlicensed covers can result in your account being flagged or suspended.
The license costs $12-$17 per song. The risk of skipping it is not worth the savings.
Covers vs. Interpolations vs. Samples
These are different uses with different licensing requirements.
Cover. Your own recording of someone else's song, performed in a way that does not fundamentally alter the composition. Requires a mechanical license. You own the master of your recording.
Interpolation. You recreate a portion of someone else's melody or lyrics within your own original song. This typically requires direct permission from the publisher and a negotiated license, not a compulsory mechanical license.
Sample. You use a piece of the original recording (the actual audio) in your song. This requires both a master license (from the master owner) and a composition license (from the publisher). Sampling is more complex and expensive than covering. See Sample Clearance Guide for the full process.
Licensing Covers for YouTube and Social Media
A standard mechanical license covers audio distribution on streaming platforms. It does not automatically cover video. If you record a music video of your cover, you need a sync license for the visual component.
Some platforms have blanket agreements that simplify this. YouTube, for example, has licensing agreements with major publishers that allow covers to exist on the platform. But those agreements do not cover all compositions, and they do not extend to other platforms.
If you are releasing a cover as audio-only to DSPs, a standard mechanical license is sufficient. If you are pairing it with video, check whether a separate license for YouTube is needed or covered by platform agreements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a mechanical license for a cover on SoundCloud?
Yes. Any digital distribution of a cover recording requires a mechanical license, regardless of platform.
Can the original songwriter block my cover?
Under US compulsory license law, they cannot block a faithful cover of a previously released song. They can only block covers that significantly alter the lyrics or fundamental character of the composition.
Do I earn royalties on my cover?
You own the master of your cover recording, so you earn streaming royalties on the sound recording side. The original songwriter earns the composition royalties (mechanical and performance) from your cover.
How long does a mechanical license last?
A standard mechanical license does not expire. It covers the specific recording and distribution formats outlined in the license for as long as the recording is distributed.
Read Next:
Plan Your Cover Release
Covers require the same release planning as originals, plus the licensing step. Orphiq helps you manage release timelines so the license is secured before your distributor upload date.