How to Legally Release a Cover Song on Spotify
To legally release a cover song, you need a mechanical license for the composition before your distributor will deliver it to DSPs. In the US, get this through Easy Song Licensing, Harry Fox Agency, or your distributor's cover add-on. In Canada, clear through CMRRA or CSI, or use a licensed service. No permission from the original artist required for an audio-only release.
needed from the original artist for an audio cover
to get the license: a dedicated service or distributor add-on
different mechanisms: §115 vs CMRRA/CSI
when your distributor requires the license to be in place
Key takeaways
- A mechanical license covers the composition when you release an audio cover. It does not cover video or lyric changes.
- In the US, the compulsory mechanical license under §115 means you don't need the songwriter's permission. You do need the license and the royalty.
- Get the license through Easy Song Licensing, HFA, or your distributor's cover add-on. All three route the royalty to the original songwriter.
- In Canada, clear through CMRRA/CSI or a service that covers that territory. A US §115 compulsory license does not extend to Canada.
- Distributors require proof of a cover license before they'll deliver to DSPs. Sort this before you submit.
- Statutory mechanical rates change. Verify the current rate at copyright.gov before projecting costs.
What a mechanical license actually covers
When you release a cover, there are two separate rights in play. The composition is the underlying song: the melody, the lyrics, the musical structure. The master is the actual recording you made.
A mechanical license is a license to reproduce and distribute the composition. When you pay for it, you’re paying the songwriter (or their publisher) for the right to put their song on your recording and release it. You already own your recording. The mechanical license is what makes releasing your recording of their song legal.
The cover-songs-and-sampling cluster covers the full breakdown of what you own vs. what the original creator owns. For the mechanics of rights ownership, see the cover songs and sampling overview.
The mechanical license only covers the audio release on streaming platforms and downloads. A music video, a YouTube upload with any visual, or a sync placement requires a separate sync license. That license is not compulsory and must be negotiated directly with the publisher.
Two things the mechanical license does not cover
First, any video use. Posting your cover to YouTube or using it in a music video is a sync use, which requires a separate sync license from the publisher. Even with a mechanical license sorted, Content ID will likely claim your YouTube video and route ad revenue to the original rights holder.
Second, changing the lyrics or fundamental character of the song. A translation, a parody with rewritten words, or a version that substantially departs from the original requires the publisher’s direct permission. The compulsory license does not cover those.
How to get a mechanical license in the US
Under US §115, once a song has been previously released and distributed commercially, anyone can cover it by obtaining a compulsory mechanical license and paying the statutory royalty rate. The songwriter does not need to agree. You just need to do it correctly.
There are two practical routes for independent artists.
Route 1: a dedicated licensing service. Easy Song Licensing and HFA (Harry Fox Agency) are the practitioner-standard options. You search for the song by title or ISRC, they identify the publisher and rights holder, and they obtain the license on your behalf. They also handle the royalty accounting and payment routing to the songwriter. You pay a fee for the service plus the royalties owed. For most indie releases this is a straightforward transaction.
Route 2: your distributor’s cover add-on. DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and most other major distributors offer a cover song licensing add-on. When you upload a cover, you flag it as such, pay an additional fee, and the distributor manages the mechanical license and royalty routing for you. This is the lowest-friction option if your distributor offers it for your territory, because you stay inside one workflow. Check whether the add-on covers international distribution or only the US.
The statutory rate is set by the Copyright Royalty Board, and it changes. Look up the current rate at copyright.gov before you plan your release budget.
Either route ends with the same outcome: the publisher receives the mechanical royalty, you have a documented license, and your distributor has what they need to deliver the cover to DSPs.
Canada: CMRRA, CSI, and why US §115 does not apply
US §115 is a US statute. It gives rights under US copyright law, and it stops at the border. A mechanical license issued under §115 does not authorize distribution in Canada.
Canada’s equivalent licensing bodies are CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) and CSI (Societe canadienne-auteurs, compositeurs et editeurs de musique). Mechanical clearance for Canadian distribution runs through them. The principle is the same: you license the composition, pay the royalty, and release your recording. The agency and the process are different.
If you’re distributing globally (which most DSP releases are), verify that whatever licensing service or distributor add-on you use covers your full distribution territory. Some US-focused services handle Canadian rights through CMRRA/CSI on your behalf. Others are US-only and leave international distribution uncovered. Ask explicitly before you assume.
What distributors actually require
Distributors are not going to submit a cover to Spotify, Apple Music, or any other DSP on your say-so. They will ask for confirmation that the mechanical license is in place.
If you’re using your distributor’s own cover add-on, the license is obtained as part of the upload and they handle it. If you’re using an external service like Easy Song, you’ll receive a license confirmation, and your distributor will ask you to check a box or upload a copy confirming you have it.
Either way, the license needs to be in place before the track goes live. Uploading a cover and hoping the license catches up is not a real plan. Distributors have had covers pulled from DSPs for exactly this reason.
Once the mechanical license is sorted and your recording is live, your splits as a performer are entirely separate from what the songwriter earns on the composition. For the full picture of who receives what, the who gets paid on a cover song guide has the breakdown.
A note on high-stakes licensing decisions
The process above is straightforward for a standard audio cover of a commercially released song. If your situation is more complicated, such as a very old or obscure song with unclear rights ownership, a work that may not be in the public domain, or a cover you want to sync with video, a music lawyer is the right resource. This guide gives you the framework. A lawyer handles the edge cases.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical license cost for a cover song?+
The statutory mechanical rate is set by the Copyright Royalty Board in the US and changes periodically. For digital downloads and physical releases it's a per-copy rate; for streaming it's calculated differently based on a formula involving plays and revenue. The rate you pay depends on how many copies you press or how many streams the cover gets. Licensing services like Easy Song calculate this for you. Verify the current rate at copyright.gov before budgeting, since rates change.
Can I release a cover song on Spotify without a license?+
Your distributor will require proof or confirmation of a mechanical license before submitting a cover to Spotify or any DSP. If you skip it and somehow get the track live, you're distributing the composition without authorization. The original publisher can claim the track or have it removed. Getting the license first is the only clean path.
What's the difference between Easy Song, HFA, and my distributor's add-on?+
Easy Song Licensing and HFA (Harry Fox Agency) are dedicated mechanical licensing services. You search for the song, they locate the publisher, obtain the compulsory license on your behalf, and handle the royalty routing. Your distributor's cover add-on does the same thing but bundles it into the upload flow. The practical difference is mainly where you manage the paperwork. All three route the mechanical royalty to the songwriter. Check whether your distributor's add-on covers your territory, since some are US-only.
Do I need a mechanical license to post a cover on YouTube?+
A standard mechanical license covers audio distribution (downloads, streaming on music platforms). A YouTube upload with visuals is a sync use, and sync licenses are not compulsory. Even with a mechanical license in place, the original publisher can claim your YouTube video through Content ID. For a public YouTube cover, you're in a different conversation with the publisher than a simple mechanical license. Many creators proceed anyway and accept that ad revenue may route to the rights holder.
Does the compulsory mechanical license work in Canada?+
Canada has a similar principle but a different mechanism. Mechanical licensing in Canada runs through CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) and CSI rather than the US §115 compulsory regime. A US mechanical license does not extend to Canadian distribution. If you're releasing in Canada, use a service that covers CMRRA/CSI territory or clear directly through those organizations.
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