Do you own a cover of a song?

When someone records and releases a song, you are free to do your own cover version of that song by obtaining a mechanical or “compulsory” license. Then, every time your cover version is sold or reproduced, you (or your record label) must pay the statutory royalty fee for that song (currently 9.1¢ per copy in the US).

What does the term cover version mean?

noun. a recording or performance of a song by a singer, instrumentalist, or group other than the original performer or composer.

Why is a cover song called a cover?

The term “cover” goes back decades when cover version originally described a rival version of a tune recorded to compete with the recently released (original) version. The Chicago Tribune described the term in 1952: “trade jargon meaning to record a tune that looks like a potential hit on someone else’s label.”

Are covering songs legal?

Anyone can cover anyone else’s song, and its creator cannot say no (that’s the compulsory part). But if you do cover a song, you must pay a royalty to the song’s creator (that’s the licensing part). The article covers the history of the most common kind of license you’ll need to release a cover: the mechanical license.

Do you need permission to cover a song live?

You do not need to personally ask for permission to perform another songwriter’s work at a live show, as concert venues are responsible for obtaining a blanket license from their local PRO(s) to ensure the legal status of songs that are played within their premises.

Which song has the most cover versions?

Yesterday
According to Guinness World Records, “Yesterday” has the most cover versions of any song ever written. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 recorded cover versions. Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) asserts that it was performed over seven million times in the 20th century alone.

What makes a good cover version?

Making a good cover takes more than virtuosic skill or a sense of irony. 1 – Be Original: the Cover Artist should bring something fresh to the original song, whether it be supplanting the song into another genre or casting it in a different light through context, tempo, musical colour, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9G6mVo_AbQ