Putting Cover Songs on your Physical Media
When I manufacture my version of another artists songs do I need a license?
Cover versions require permission from the copyright owners, unless they are in the public domain. Regardless if you are selling or giving away your CD’s, DVD’s, USB’s, BluRay’s or Vinyl Records, you must clear all your cover songs for replication and permission must be granted, or licenses purchased. This can be as simple as contacting the songwriter and having an email or letter of authorization to use each song, or the painful process of getting clearance from a distributor, publisher, or label.
Pressing Media requires the IPR form completed:
- Project Title.
- Distribution.
- Countries where Distributed.
- (Universal, or a country/territory if it is specific to the project).
You must select that you are not the IPR owner of the entire contents.
- In Section 2 of the IPR form (CD/ DVD Audio Content) write “See attached documentation”
- Enter Organization, Name, Telephone Number.
- Signature.
- Name, Title (artist or president for example) and the Date.
Link to the Intellectual Property Release Form can be found here:
Then send a scan, digital photo, or PDF of the completed cover song license documents and email them to your CSR or direct representative.
All cover songs for physical media manufacturing must be licensed.
