If you're distributing cover songs in any format (MP3s, CDs, vinyl, etc.), you can easily acquire the necessary license through Limelight.
Get started here:
How the process works:
- Artist / Label signs up and provides basic song & release information via Limelight.
- Artist / Label determines configurations (Digital, Physical, and/or Ringtone) and number of units (minimum of 25) before paying via PayPal.
- Artist / Label pays one-time service fee and calculated publishing fees to Limelight for the mechanical license.
- Limelight triggers automatic license request via their bulk licensing system handling Harry Fox and non-HFA publishers.
- Limelight generates artist / label notification of license and permission to proceed with release.
Limelight benefits:
- Limelight allows labels to be fully compliant with paying songwriters and publishers.
- Limelight's licenses utilize RightsFlow's bulk licensing system, allowing for a license that never expires.
- Users pay a one-time fee versus shelling out for expensive lawyers and costly administrator fees.
- Covers full publishing market: Limelight is able to handle licenses for Harry Fox and non-Harry Fox represented publishers, including international publishers.
- Artists / Labels can clear between 25-5,000 units and re-buy to cover additional downloads or pressings at any time.
- Limelight offers comprehensive customer service via online chat, social channels and phone assistance to answer any and all user questions.
Go to www.songclearance.com/affiliate/cdbaby to get started!
Fees and pricing:
- Maximum of $15 fee per licensed configuration.
- Publisher / Licensor receives 100% of royalties due from Limelight.
- Limelight provides fee discounts starting at very low volumes (2 songs and/or multiple configurations).
- Any additional copyright research is conducted by our professional Limelight team.
Podcast: How to license a cover song
By Scott Sellwood, Rightsflow
An amazing number of CD Baby artists have achieved success through their version of a cover song. Covers provide an opportunity to be discovered by fans searching for a well-known song. It's a great way to introduce your act, and can open the door to someone discovering your original music, but you do have to acquire the rights first. In this episode, Scott Sellwood of RightsFlow walks us through how to properly license a cover song. Even if you have licensed a cover in the past for CDs, Scott helps to make sense of the different types of licenses needed in the digital age. Listen to the CD Baby Rightsflow Podcast.