What You Need to Know About Legally Releasing Cover Songs

Cover songs offer indie artists a creative way to grow their audience, pay tribute to classics, and even land sync placements in film and TV. But behind every successful cover lies a legal foundation—understanding mechanical and synchronization licenses is essential. Here’s your complete guide.

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Why Release a Cover Song?

Covering an existing hit can help new fans discover you. Familiarity increases visibility on streaming platforms, while music supervisors often seek cover versions for use in sync placements because they’re easier and cheaper to license than original masters. This makes covers a strategic tool for building both audience and revenue—if done legally.

How It Works in the U.S.

In the United States, the law provides for compulsory mechanical licensing. That means if a song has already been commercially released, anyone can legally record and distribute a cover version without getting direct permission from the original songwriter—as long as:

• You don’t alter the lyrics or melody.
• You obtain a mechanical license.
• You pay the required royalties.

Many streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music handle these royalties for you in the U.S. through a blanket license with The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). However, this only applies to digital streaming and downloads within the U.S.. For physical formats like CDs or vinyl, artists must secure their own mechanical license through services like Songfile or Easy Song Licensing.

How It Works in Europe

Europe operates under a different legal framework—there is no compulsory license system. This means you must obtain explicit permission from the copyright owner or publisher before recording and distributing a cover song.

In many European countries, this process is managed by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) such as PRS for Music (UK), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), and others. These CMOs represent songwriters and publishers and may be able to issue mechanical licenses on their behalf, but only if the rights holder has given them the authority to do so.

For example:

• If you want to release a cover in Germany, you would typically contact GEMA and pay royalties up front based on expected distribution.
• In the UK, PRS for Music or MCPS may be involved in both licensing and royalty collection.

It’s important to note that streaming platforms in Europe do not uniformly handle mechanical royalties the way they do in the U.S. You may still need to confirm coverage or handle licensing separately depending on the country and service.

Sync Licensing: U.S. and Europe

Whether you're in Los Angeles or London, one thing remains the same: if you're planning to use your cover song in a video—such as on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or in a film or ad—you’ll need a synchronization (sync) license.

A sync license is completely separate from a mechanical license and cannot be obtained through a compulsory system. You must negotiate directly with the copyright owner or publisher. If you don't have it, your video could be muted, demonetized, or removed—even if the audio side was properly licensed.

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Licensing Your Cover Song

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You can obtain a mechanical license through:

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• Distributors that offer built-in licensing support, like DistroKid or Soundrop. They charge a fee per song and handle royalty reporting.
• Independent licensing agencies, such as:
  • Songfile (from the Harry Fox Agency)
  • Easy Song Licensing

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In the U.S., these services allow you to pay a flat fee upfront based on expected distribution volume. If your track exceeds the licensed number of downloads or sales, you’ll need to update your license.

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In Europe, you'll typically work through the relevant CMO in each country, or the publisher directly, depending on where and how the song will be released.

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Key Reminders for Global Distribution

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• Label the song as a cover when submitting to Octiive or any distributor.
• Include correct metadata, such as original songwriters and publishers.
• Get the appropriate license based on your release format and region:
  • U.S. streaming: covered by MLC blanket license.
  • U.S. downloads/physical: requires manual licensing.
  • Europe: always requires prior approval or licensing via local CMO.
  • Sync use: always requires publisher approval globally.

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How Octiive Supports You

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Octiive helps artists distribute music globally, but the legal responsibility for licensing still falls on the artist. When you submit a cover through our platform, we can:

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• Guide you through metadata best practices.
• Ensure proper routing of royalties through DSPs.
• Assist you in understanding what licensing you still need to secure before release.

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Final Thoughts

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Cover songs can be an incredible artistic tool and career asset—but only if handled legally. The U.S. offers flexibility through compulsory mechanical licensing, but in Europe, you’ll need permission first. And no matter where you are, using your cover in video or visual content always requires a separate sync license.

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When in doubt, consult with a licensing expert or reach out to our team at Octiive. We’re here to help you release confidently—and legally.

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