Licensing coversongs

Dreamweavers Records International can significantly assist an artist in obtaining a mechanical license to publish a coversong by streamlining the often-complex process of music copyright clearance. While the record company itself may not be the licensing body, it would typically utilize or partner with specialized music licensing services or distributors (like TuneCore or similar platforms) that have established systems for compulsory mechanical licensing. Their role would involve managing the administrative burden: identifying the original copyright holders (the songwriter and/or publisher), calculating the correct statutory mechanical royalty rate based on the number of reproductions (downloads, physical copies) or streams, and ensuring timely payment to the rights holders. For an artist, this means the record company handles the necessary legal compliance, allowing the musician to focus on recording and distribution without the risk of copyright infringement. The record company's infrastructure and partnerships make the process faster, more efficient, and globally compliant where possible, ensuring the artist meets their legal obligation under copyright law before their coversong is released for sale or streaming.

​A mechanical license grants the licensee (the artist or their record company) the legal right to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted musical composition (the underlying melody and lyrics) in an audio-only format. With a mechanical license, you can legally record and distribute your own version of a song that has been previously recorded and released by the copyright owner. This allows you to sell digital downloads or physical copies (CDs, vinyl) and distribute the song to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, with the understanding that the statutory royalty rate must be paid to the original composer and publisher for each reproduction.

​However, there are specific limitations on what you cannot do. A mechanical license does not give you the right to make fundamental changes to the original song; you must maintain the basic melody and the fundamental character of the composition, meaning you cannot significantly alter the lyrics, change the core melody, or create a derivative work like a medley or mashup without negotiating a separate, specific license (often requiring direct permission from the copyright holder). Crucially, a mechanical license does not cover the use of the original recording (the 'master') or any of its elements, such as the original instrumental track; using the original master recording requires a separate master use license. Lastly, a mechanical license does not grant the right to use the music in combination with visual elements, such as a music video on platforms like YouTube; this requires a separate synchronization (sync) license, which must be negotiated directly with the publisher, and which they have the right to refuse.