TL;DR
A mechanical license costs $12-50 through your distributor, takes 10 minutes to set up, and is the only thing standing between you and a legit cover release. Most distributors handle it automatically — just check the "this is a cover" box.
You found the perfect cover vocal, produced a fire remix, and you're ready to release it. But before you hit distribute, there's one thing standing between you and a legit release: the mechanical license.
If you're a producer or DJ making cover remixes — and especially if you're using pre-recorded cover vocals — this is the one piece of paperwork you can't skip. The good news: it's easier and cheaper than most people think.
What Is a Mechanical License?
A mechanical license gives you legal permission to reproduce and distribute someone else's composition. Not the original recording (that's a master license) — the underlying song: the melody, lyrics, and chord progression.
When you release a cover song, you're using someone else's composition in a new recording. The mechanical license is what makes that legal.
Without one, streaming platforms can pull your track, collect your royalties, or worse — the publisher can come after you for copyright infringement.
When Do You Need One?
| You NEED a mechanical license | You DON'T need one |
|---|---|
| Releasing a cover on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. | Performing a cover live (venue handles this) |
| Selling a cover as a digital download | Posting a cover on YouTube (blanket Content ID deals) |
| Pressing a cover to vinyl or CD | Recording for personal use |
How Much Does It Cost?
In the United States, mechanical royalty rates are set by law (the "statutory rate"):
Physical & permanent downloads: 12 cents per copy (songs under 5 min)
Songs over 5 minutes: 2.31 cents per minute
Streaming: Calculated differently — based on a percentage of platform revenue, split among rights holders
In practice, most indie releases cost between $15-50 to clear through a licensing service, depending on expected copies/streams.
How to Get a Mechanical License: 4 Options
Option 1: Through Your Distributor (Easiest)
Most modern distributors handle mechanical licensing as part of the upload process:
- DistroKid: Cover song licensing for ~$12/year per song
- CD Baby: Handles mechanical licensing automatically when you flag a release as a cover
- TuneCore: Partners with HFA (Harry Fox Agency) to clear licenses during upload
This is the path most producers take. You're already using a distributor to get on Spotify — just check the "this is a cover" box and pay the small extra fee.
Our recommendation: Go through your distributor. It's the fastest, cheapest, and handles international licensing automatically.
Option 2: Harry Fox Agency (HFA)
The Harry Fox Agency is the largest mechanical licensing organization in the U.S. Their Songfile service is straightforward: search for the song, select the format, specify the number of copies, and pay.
Option 3: Easy Song (Recommended)
Easy Song handles the entire mechanical licensing process for you. You tell them which songs you want to license, pay their fee ($16.99 per format per song + royalties), and they take care of everything, including finding the rights holder. You get PDF proof of licensing in 1-2 business days. If the song isn't in HFA's catalog or you just want someone to handle it all, Easy Song is the easiest option.
