Cover Songs and Mechanical Licenses: How to Release One Legally
Want to record and release a cover song without getting sued? Good news: US law lets you do it without the original artist’s permission – as long as you get a mechanical license and pay the statutory royalty (13.1 cents per copy in 2026). Here’s exactly how mechanical licenses work, when you need a separate sync license for video, and the easiest way to clear a cover legally.