Do you have to have permission to cover a song?!


Question:

Do you have to have permission to cover a song?

Or can you just do it as long as you give the original person/band credit?


Answers:

It depends on what you're doing with the song.

If you are playing it live, then the venue more than likely has a "blanket" license that covers this (no pun intended). If the bar has a jukebox, they more than likely have the license. If the bar has bands play there all the time or has karaoke on a regular basis, I guarantee they have the license. The Harry Fox Agency (the company the record companies set up to sell the licenses for covers and other things) doesn't screw around when it comes to being vigilant with their licensing fees. Even if the venue does not have a license (private parties for instance), nobody will bother to sue your band unless you are in an EXTREMELY good (lucrative) cover band. It would make more sense to sue the venue (more $).

If you are planning on recording and selling a cover song, then you have to get your own license. The key word is "selling". If you record a couple covers for a demo CD to give away (to get gigs, etc.), you don't need your own license.

Basically, the key to all of this is money. If you or your band makes LOTS of money off selling cover tunes - you may want to get your own license. This is extremely rare. It's not really worth it for the record companies to sue local bar bands - musicians are poor (trust me, I know).

Google Harry Fox Agency or ASCAP/BMI licensing.


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