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How to Release a Cover Song
How to Release a Cover Song

All of the details you need in a checklist to know when distributing a cover song.

Kirsten Bennett avatar
Written by Kirsten Bennett
Updated over a week ago

WHAT IS A COVER SONG?

A cover song refers to a new rendition or performance of a previously recorded song by an artist or group other than the original creator or performer. Musicians do covers for all sorts of reasons - to pay tribute to a favourite artist, show off their own style, or just have fun putting their own twist on a popular tune. It's a way for musicians to showcase their creativity and put their own personalities into a song that people already know and love.

Are you ready to start distributing a cover song? Great! First thing first, make sure you have your account with Identity Music set up and ready to go.

  • If you have not spoken to our A&R team, check out how to apply for our services HERE.

  • If you have been invited to our services & have your account up and running, it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of distributing a cover song with Identity Music.


Where do I start as an artist when releasing a cover song? 

MAKE SURE IT IS 100% A COVER SONG.

A cover song is a recording of a previously released song that has kept the same composition (lyrics, melody and song structure) as the original version. BUT has re-recorded all of the elements of the song from scratch. You can not sample the original sound recording.

If you start changing your cover too much, it might not be a cover anymore…

Cover song licensing does not extend to: Remixes; Samples or Mashups

Stay true to the original composition & keep it a cover. This will help you avoid headaches when you’re releasing.

FIND THE RIGHT MECHANICAL LICENSE

You need a mechanical license to distribute your covers.

If you want to share your awesome cover songs and make sure you're doing it legally while making sure everyone gets their fair share, you'll need a mechanical license. But let's be real, licensing cover songs can be a real pain.

The terms can be confusing, and they can take up a lot of your time. Luckily, there are a few ways to get a mechanical license without going crazy. Keep it simple and affordable.

LOCK DOWN THE DETAILS

If you're unsure where to find the right info for your covers, Songfile provides a great resource to figure it out.

What Information do I need?

  1. Original Track Title
    Enter the original song title of your cover. Avoid the temptation to edit the title for an extra buzz. Remember: You don't need to put “(cover)” or “cover version” in the title.

  2. Credit at least one original songwriter
    So, you've gone ahead & covered a song from your absolute favourite band. But have you ever taken a close look at the songwriting credit? You might be surprised to find out that the person credited as the songwriter isn't who you'd expect.

    It's super important to get this right because it's the info that determines who gets paid for your cover. If you don't credit the track properly, it's gonna cause some serious problems down the line! So, make sure you do your research & give credit where credit is due to avoid any headaches later on!!

    Where do I credit the original songwriter? 
    - In the 'Publishing Info' metadata when creating a track on the dashboard.

    (Don't add the songwriter as a featuring artist on the release)

  3. The original performing artist
    Make sure you include the original performing artist when you’re releasing your cover. It's a piece of cake, really! Just give a shoutout to the artist's name, and you're all set! It's important to show some love and respect to the original artist, so make sure you include their name when you release your cover.

    Where do I credit the original performing artist?
    - In the 'Publishing Info' metadata when creating a track on the dashboard.

    (Don't add the original performing artist as a featuring artist on the release)

AND THAT'S A WRAP!

Have more questions? Come and speak to our team, we can help you get your cover track distributed legally.

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