When choosing ‘Full distribution’ with a license, you are able to purchase a mechanical license for the United States, the world’s biggest music market. The license is for one cover song on one release. A mechanical license is required for distribution and downloads in certain countries, with the United States being the most notable example. Without a license in place at the time of distribution, you could face repercussions from the rightsholders of the original song including the removal of your track from stores. The system also ensures that the original songwriters get compensated when you use their work.
To get a license for a cover song, you select ‘Cover’ in Track origin and ‘Full distribution’ when entering the Track details. You enter the original artist and song details, and in the final step you enter your personal contact information. This information is required to identify the rightsholders and for you to obtain a license to distribute the song.
You pay a one-time fee for this service when submitting your release. Once your release is approved and delivered to stores, any download sales will be reported to the rightsholders of the original song, and their share of royalties will be deducted from sales and paid out automatically. In other words, you don’t need to keep track of anything or worry as long as your release is distributed through Amuse!
FAQs
Q: Do I need a license for other countries, too?
A: It’s important to know that the license you purchase through us only covers the United States. There are other countries where you may need to have a license to distribute a cover song, but for most countries it is not required and royalties automatically get paid out to the original songwriters. We cannot offer licenses for other countries through our service and it is your responsibility to make sure you have the right to distribute any release that you submit.
Q: If I buy a license, can I do whatever I want with my cover song?
A: The license is only valid for digital downloads as long as the song is distributed through Amuse. Any other use of the cover song will require special licensing and is not covered by the service we offer. If you for example would like to sell physical copies of your recording, synchronise the audio to video, or use it in some other way, it would require additional licensing.
Q: Will I get a document to prove that I have a license?
A: No, however in the unlikely case of a dispute directly related to the distribution of your cover song through Amuse, we may be able to assist you and provide the necessary documentation.
Q: I forgot to buy a license when I first released my cover, can I add one now?
A: There is an important limitation of the compulsory mechanical licenses, which is that they need to be obtained before or at the time the cover song recording has been published in the United States. So if you have already distributed the cover song in the United States without a license, if you get one later it will not be valid. If you haven’t yet distributed the cover in the United States, reach out to support for assistance.
Q: I’m transferring my release from another distributor and already have a license, do I need to buy a new license?
A: Not necessarily, as long as the license you have is still valid for distribution. You can proceed with your release using the ‘Limited distribution’ option for your cover and then contact support to provide your cover song license and request distribution to all territories.
More information is available in the Cover Song Licensing Service Terms & Conditions.