30 Apr What Is Music Licensing?
What Is Music Licensing?
Music licensing is one of the many ways that a songwriter gets paid for their work. Long after a song is written and produced — and for the entire life of the copyright itself — songs you’ve written can be licensed in television, film, radio, and more.
The sole right of the copyright owner to authorize performance of the work for the general public. To perform a popular song publicly — or to grant another person that right — you need a public performance license.
Licenses can be obtained or granted through BMI and ASCAP.
The sole right of the copyright owner to authorize reproduction of a musical work — such as on a record or CD. The Harry Fox Agency issues mechanical licenses on behalf of copyright owners, normally to a record company.
This grants the record company the right to duplicate and distribute a composition at a predetermined fee.
Have you ever heard your favorite song and thought, “This is MY song, I love it!” As much as you emotionally identify with a song, that doesn’t make it yours — and it doesn’t give you the right to perform it. As a songwriter, you can grant others the right to perform your work through a music license.
Do I need a license to release a cover song of someone else’s song?
Yes — but the type of license you need depends on how you plan to release it. Here’s a breakdown of the most current rules:
You do not need to obtain a mechanical license yourself. Since the Music Modernization Act of 2018, streaming platforms pay mechanical royalties directly to the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), which then distributes them to songwriters and publishers. Most digital distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby handle this automatically as part of their service — often for a small additional fee per song.
A mechanical license is required. The current statutory rate in the US is 12 cents per copy for songs under 5 minutes. You can obtain one through the Harry Fox Agency (Songfile), or services like Easy Song Licensing — typically for around $15–$16 per song.
Pairing audio with video requires a synchronization (sync) license in addition to a mechanical license. For YouTube specifically, uploading a cover video triggers the platform’s Content ID system — most publishers choose to monetize rather than block your video, but this is not a substitute for a proper sync license if you intend to monetize directly.
You generally don’t need to obtain a license yourself. The venue is responsible for holding a blanket performance license through BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC, which covers the songs performed there.
Important to Know
- ✦ A mechanical license covers your own new recording of a song — it does not give you the right to use the original artist’s recording.
- ✦ Making significant changes to the lyrics or melody requires separate permission from the copyright holder — a standard mechanical license does not cover derivative works.
- ✦ Songs recorded before 1928 are generally in the public domain in the US and do not require a license.
professionally produced demos.
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