So, you've recorded a cover song. Maybe you've turned a pop hit into a stripped-back acoustic ballad, given an old classic a completely different atmosphere, or finally recorded that song you've been singing in your bedroom for years. You're happy with it. It's mixed, mastered, and ready to go.
And now... you'd like to release it. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer... wherever people listen. But... hang on. Can you actually release somebody else's song? Do you need permission – and from whom? Do you have to write "cover" in the title? What about songwriter credits? And why do some distributors ask you to buy a license while others seem to let you upload without one?
Let's start with the simple and good news: Cover songs are absolutely allowed on major streaming platforms, yes, for free even, provided you follow the relevant copyright and licensing rules.
The slightly less exciting news? Those rules aren't always identical across platforms, countries, and types of releases. But! Don't worry. It's not nearly as scary as it might sound. Let's go through what you actually need to know before hitting that release button.
Yes! You can release a cover song on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TIDAL, and other streaming platforms, provided the necessary rights and licensing requirements are covered.
And no, you don't always need to personally contact the original artist and ask for their blessing.
In the US, for example, there's a system called compulsory mechanical licensing. For eligible songs that have already been released, it allows artists to record and distribute their own versions without negotiating individual permission from the songwriter, as long as certain conditions are met.
Some distributors can arrange this licensing for you. In certain cases, the streaming service and its licensing arrangements may also cover relevant rights. But here's the important bit: the rules aren't identical everywhere, and not every song or type of release qualifies.
So while releasing a cover can be relatively easy, it's not quite as simple as recording somebody else's song and uploading it like one of your own.
This is probably the most important thing to understand.
A song has two separate parts when it comes to copyright:
When you record a cover from scratch, you create a new sound recording. Depending on your agreements with collaborators, you may own that recording. But you haven't suddenly written the underlying song.
Let's say you record your own version of a well-known track. You change the instruments, slow it down, add harmonies, and make it sound almost unrecognizable. That's your recording. Your arrangement and performance. But the original composition still belongs to its rightful owners.
And that's why credits and licensing matter.
If you're releasing your cover song ONLY on major audio streaming platforms like Spotify, you generally don't need to purchase a separate mechanical license yourself.
Surprised? You're not alone!
That's because major streaming services already have licensing agreements in place and pay the relevant songwriting royalties to publishers and other rights holders. So, for a standard cover song, those streaming rights are generally taken care of.
But there's a catch: your distributor might still require a license.
For example:
So, yes, releasing a cover song for streaming only can be surprisingly straightforward, and you may not have to pay for a license at all.
Just... DO CHECK your distributor's requirements before uploading.
That's where things change.
If you want to sell your cover through download stores like iTunes or Amazon Music, or release it on CD or vinyl, you'll generally need to arrange the appropriate mechanical license.
Some licenses cover a specific number of sales, while others use ongoing royalty reporting and payments. Licensing requirements can vary by country, too.
The takeaway:
💡 Either way, and this is important: always credit the original songwriters correctly and follow your distributor's cover song requirements.
Good question! If the underlying composition is in the public domain, you generally won't need a mechanical license for that composition. This is particularly relevant for traditional songs, classical compositions, and some Christmas carols.
Just be careful: An old song might be in the public domain while a newer arrangement is still protected by copyright. And a recording of a public-domain song can have its own copyright protection, too.
So, for example, recording your own version of a traditional carol isn't the same as using the audio from somebody else's recording of that carol – which you cannot do.
Also, public-domain status varies by country. Something that's free to use in one territory might still be protected in another, so in cases where it's not totally clear, make sure to double-check.
Making a cover your own is often the whole point. You might change the genre, tempo, instrumentation, production, vocal style, or overall atmosphere.
Generally, those kinds of creative changes are compatible with an ordinary cover release, provided the underlying composition remains fundamentally intact.
But there are limits. If you substantially rewrite the lyrics, change the fundamental melody, translate the song into another language, or otherwise create a derivative adaptation, an ordinary cover license may not be enough. You may need direct permission from the composition's copyright owner.
In other words, turning a pop song into a dreamy acoustic version is one thing. Rewriting half the lyrics and calling it a cover is another.
When in doubt, check with your distributor or a music licensing professional before releasing.
Here's something that's easy to overlook: releasing a cover on Spotify isn't necessarily the same, licensing-wise, as selling it on iTunes or uploading a music video to YouTube.
Even when it's exactly the same recording.
For audio streaming, the platforms and distributors may have licensing arrangements that cover some of the rights needed to make cover songs available.
In the US, for example, eligible interactive streaming services generally handle certain mechanical royalties through the Music Licensing Collective (MLC). But that doesn't mean every cover is automatically cleared worldwide.
Your distributor may still require you to obtain a license, depending on the platform, territory, and type of release. So before uploading, check your distributor's specific cover song policy.
Yes, you can legally sell cover songs as downloads (with license, which is not hard to get)! But! Selling permanent copies can involve different mechanical licensing requirements from streaming.
Some licensing providers offer licenses covering a specified number of downloads or physical copies, while others handle royalties through ongoing reporting and payment arrangements. And here's an important distinction: Apple Music and the iTunes Store aren't the same thing.
So don't assume that because your cover is cleared for Apple Music streaming, it's automatically cleared for download sales through iTunes.
Before distributing to download stores, check whether your license or distributor's arrangements cover those sales.
YouTube Music is primarily an audio streaming service, and music delivered there through a distributor is generally handled as a music release.
Uploading a video of yourself performing the cover to YouTube is a different situation.
Using a copyrighted composition together with video can involve synchronization rights, which aren't necessarily included in a standard mechanical cover license.
And while YouTube has licensing agreements with many music publishers, that doesn't automatically mean every cover video is authorized for every use. In some cases, you might receive a Content ID claim and have advertising revenue redirected to the copyright owner, or encounter restrictions.
Physical copies and direct downloads can also require appropriate mechanical licensing.
And unlike some streaming arrangements, you may be responsible for obtaining that license and accounting for royalties yourself. So yes, you – kinda – can release a cover on CD, vinyl, or through Bandcamp. But before that, you HAVE TO make sure you've covered the necessary rights first.
💡 A little tip: You could also offer your cover song as a free download on Bandcamp! It's a lovely way to share something extra with your listeners and introduce more people to your music.
Here's something that surprises quite a few artists.
No, you generally don't need to – actually SHOULD NOT – add "cover" to the song title on Spotify or other streaming platforms.
In fact, Spotify's metadata guidelines discourage misleading title additions that reference the original artist, such as:
If you're releasing your own version of a song called Example Song, you would normally release it under that song's actual title.
Not Example Song (Originally Performed By Famous Artist), or Example Song (A Famous Artist Cover).
You shouldn't need to turn the title into a miniature copyright disclaimer.
There is a little nuance here, though. Some descriptive version labels may be acceptable under platform guidelines, and Apple Music recognizes "Cover Version" as version information. Different platforms and distributors may have slightly different metadata requirements, so it's worth checking the rules of the service you're using.
💡 But the important thing is that you don't need to add "cover" to the public title just to prove that you've acknowledged the original song.
➡️ That's what the proper metadata and songwriter credits are for.
And, importantly, just because the word "cover" isn't visible next to the title doesn't mean an artist is pretending they wrote the song.
🚨 However, when your distributor asks whether the recording is a cover, you should absolutely identify it as one.
That's a completely different thing from putting the word in the title.
Which brings us to...
This one really matters. ☝️ When uploading a cover song through your distributor, you need to identify the actual writers of the underlying composition.
NOT the artist who made the song famous. Those aren't necessarily the same people.
A famous singer might have recorded a song written by three completely different people. And sometimes, the version everyone knows isn't even the first recording.
So... don't guess. Look up the original songwriting credits and make sure they're entered correctly in your distributor's upload form. Cover song licensing companies (e.g. Easy Song) will help you with that if you're getting a license through them.
It depends on your distributor, but you'll typically encounter fields for:
For example, DistroKid asks whether the track is an original or a cover during the upload process and has a separate section for cover song information and licensing.
Your distributor then sends the relevant metadata to the streaming services.
On Spotify, open the song, find its menu, and select View credits or Show credits, depending on your device. Other streaming platforms also display songwriter and composer information, although the presentation and available details vary.
If you've already released your cover but notice the credits are missing or incorrect, contact your distributor. You can always edit – and make it right. Without properly acknowledging the people coming up with the song... it's kind of stealing, you know.
And one more thing: crediting the original writers does not replace obtaining the necessary rights.
Giving someone credit is the right thing to do, but it's not a copyright license. So... do give credit, and do get a license in cases that require it. There are (easily Google-able) sites that can help, and most of the time, it's like... 20 bucks or so :)