What a mechanical license is and why it matters

A mechanical license is a legal permission that allows you to record and distribute a song you did not write. When you record a cover song, remix, or any version of someone else's composition, you owe the songwriter money — and a mechanical license is how you pay them and stay legal.

The songwriter (or their publisher) owns the right to control who records their song. Without a mechanical license, you cannot legally release a recording to the public, whether on streaming platforms, CDs, vinyl, or downloads. The license does not require the original artist's permission — only the songwriter's — which is why you can record a cover of a famous song without asking the band itself.

You need a mechanical license whenever you record and distribute a new version of a song you did not write. This includes cover songs, remixes, mashups, and instrumental versions. You do not need one if you are only performing the song live, posting a short clip for personal use, or performing it in a venue that already has blanket licenses (like a bar or restaurant).

Key Takeaways

  • A mechanical license gives you the legal right to record and distribute a cover song or remix, and it pays the songwriter every time your version is sold or streamed.
  • You obtain a mechanical license through a licensing agency like the Harry Fox Agency, straightforward Song Licensing, or directly from a music publisher, depending on where you plan to distribute.
  • The mechanical royalty rate is set by law and currently amounts to about 10.1 cents per song for downloads and permanent ownership, though streaming rates are much lower and vary by platform.
  • You must identify the song's publisher or original writer before you can request a license, which you can do through the U.S. Copyright Office database or services like Spotify and Apple Music.
  • Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music handle mechanical licensing automatically for you, but you still owe the royalty — the platform deducts it from your payout.

Finding the song's publisher or original writer

Before you can get a mechanical license, you need to know who owns the rights to the song. This is usually the songwriter, their publisher, or a rights management company. The fastest way to find this information is to search the U.S. Copyright Office database at copyright.gov. Type in the song title and original artist name, and the record will show the copyright holder and publisher.

If the Copyright Office database does not have the information (which happens with older or obscure songs), check the song's page on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. These platforms often list the publisher in the credits section. You can also contact the original artist's record label directly — they usually know who administers the mechanical rights.

Once you have the publisher's name, search for their contact information online. Major publishers like Sony/ATV, Universal Music Publishing, and Warner Chappell have websites with licensing departments. Smaller independent publishers may only have an email address or a contact form.

Obtaining a license through a licensing agency

The easiest route for most independent musicians is to use a licensing agency that handles the paperwork and payment on your behalf. These agencies represent thousands of publishers and songwriters, so you can often get multiple licenses in one place.

Harry Fox Agency (now part of Concord) is the largest mechanical licensing service in the United States. You create an account, search for the song you want to cover, and the system tells you whether they represent that song. If they do, you pay a fee per song (usually a few dollars) and receive a license. Harry Fox also handles payment collection — when your song is sold or streamed, they collect the royalty from distributors and pass it to the publisher.

straightforward Song Licensing and Lickd are smaller agencies that work similarly. MRI (Music Reports, Inc.) specializes in licensing for digital distribution and works with most major distributors. Each agency has a different catalog, so if one does not represent the song, try another.

The cost to obtain a license through an agency is usually between $5 and $25 per song, depending on the service. Some agencies charge a monthly subscription instead. Once you have the license, you can record and distribute your version.

Licensing directly from the publisher

If a licensing agency does not represent the song, you can contact the publisher directly. This is slower but sometimes necessary for independent or self-published songs.

Email the publisher's licensing department with the song title, original artist, and your plan for distribution (streaming, read, physical release, etc.). They will send you a mechanical license agreement, which you sign and return. The agreement specifies the royalty rate and how you will report and pay them.

Direct licensing usually requires you to report your sales or streams to the publisher monthly or quarterly, and pay them the royalty owed. This is more work than using an agency, but it is sometimes the only option. Keep records of every copy sold or stream reported — publishers audit these reports.

How much you pay in mechanical royalties

The mechanical royalty rate is set by U.S. law and changes annually. For downloads and permanent ownership (like CDs or vinyl), the current rate is approximately 10.1 cents per song. This means if you sell 1,000 downloads of your cover, you owe about $101 to the songwriter.

Streaming rates are much lower and vary by platform. Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube pay fractions of a cent per stream. Because streaming payments are so small, many independent artists do not worry about mechanical licensing for streaming alone — the royalty owed is often less than a dollar per month. However, you are still legally required to have the license.

If you are manufacturing physical copies (CDs, vinyl, cassettes), the mechanical royalty is owed per unit manufactured, not per unit sold. This means you owe the royalty even if the CD sits in a warehouse unsold. This is why physical releases are more expensive to license than digital ones.

How streaming platforms handle mechanical licensing

When you upload a cover song to Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube through a distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby, the platform does not ask you to provide a mechanical license first. Instead, the platform has blanket agreements with major publishers and licensing agencies that cover most songs.

Here is what happens: you upload your cover, the platform identifies the original song, and automatically deducts the mechanical royalty from your payout. If your cover earns $100 in streaming revenue, the platform might deduct $5 to $10 in mechanical royalties before paying you the rest. The platform then sends that money to the publisher or licensing agency.

This system works smoothly for songs represented by major publishers. For independent or obscure songs, the platform may not be able to identify the publisher, and the royalty goes into a holding account. If the publisher never claims it, the money stays with the platform. This is rare but happens occasionally with very new or very old songs.

What happens if you do not get a mechanical license

Recording and distributing a cover song without a mechanical license is copyright infringement. The songwriter or publisher can demand that you remove the song from all platforms, and they can sue you for damages. The damages can be substantial — up to $150,000 per work if the infringement is found to be willful.

In practice, enforcement is inconsistent. Large publishers actively monitor for unlicensed covers and send takedown notices. Smaller publishers and independent songwriters often do not know their songs are being covered. However, relying on this is not a strategy — it is a risk.

If you receive a takedown notice, the fastest solution is to obtain a mechanical license retroactively and contact the publisher to explain. Many publishers will accept this and allow you to keep the song live once you are licensed. Some will demand payment for the period you were unlicensed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a mechanical license if I am only posting a cover on YouTube for fun?

If you are monetizing the video (earning ad revenue), you need a mechanical license. If you are posting without monetization and the video is not generating income, you are in a gray area — technically you still owe the royalty, but enforcement is rare. YouTube's Content ID system will usually flag the song and direct revenue to the publisher anyway.

Can I get a mechanical license for a song that is not in any database?

If the song is very new or very obscure, you may not find it in the Copyright Office database or through licensing agencies. Contact the songwriter or publisher directly if you can find them. If you cannot locate the rights holder after a reasonable search, you are taking a legal risk by recording the song.

What is the difference between a mechanical license and a sync license?

A mechanical license covers the right to record and distribute a song. A sync license covers the right to use a song in a video, film, or TV show. You need both if you are making a music video of your cover — the mechanical license for the audio recording and the sync license for the video itself.

Do I need a separate mechanical license for each streaming platform?

No. One mechanical license covers all platforms. When you license through Harry Fox or another agency, that license is valid for streaming, downloads, and physical sales. Your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) handles reporting to each platform.

What if the original artist re-recorded the song — do I need a different license?

No. The mechanical license is tied to the composition (the song itself), not the specific recording. Whether you are covering the original 1970 version or a 2020 re-recording, you license from the same publisher and pay the same royalty rate.