Legality of Covers - TranceAddict Forums

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Posted by Stephen Wiley on Feb-09-2009 16:32:

Legality of Covers

I've noticed some artist do these. They just have a different vocalist for the track. Kenneth Thomas just did one (he did a great job too).

I'm really, really wanting to do a cover for a certain pink floyd song. This would obviously be a 4x4 track. I've already got a girl with the pipes to do it (sometimes its good to live 20 miles from Music City USA) and I can get late night studio time for free. There is just a small male vocal in there that I'm sure I can get done easily (I may not even use it actually)

What are the legalities here? What do I need to make sure to do if I do do it? Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Posted by Freak on Feb-10-2009 10:49:

Perfectly legal- you do not need permission to do a cover as long as you do not sample anything the original (or any other covers/recordings that exist)- everything must be replayed.

Posted by EgosXII on Feb-10-2009 12:26:

i thought it was to do with profiting from a released/copyrighted song???

since essentially you'd be making money off someone else's lyrics etc???

Posted by Stef on Feb-10-2009 13:35:

Im sure its all good, as long as the original artist isnt a money grubbing ass.
My favorite cover of all time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qNxWEyUvqo

Killswitch Engage - Holy Diver
Its a cover of Dio

Posted by EgosXII on Feb-10-2009 13:40:

quote:
Originally posted by Stef
Im sure its all good, as long as the original artist isnt a money grubbing ass.
My favorite cover of all time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qNxWEyUvqo

Killswitch Engage - Holy Diver
Its a cover of Dio

ahh nice to know, i've been doing this mix of nick cave's red right hand.. not looking to release it, but good to know i can't get in trouble for it if i send it around or somethin

Posted by Stephen Wiley on Feb-11-2009 00:11:

We need to do some Metallica covers

Seriously - "nothing else matters" has a sick guitar that sounds even better as a piano solo. i've got the midi for it and i've tweaked it to sound quite nice

Posted by Kismet7 on Feb-11-2009 07:05:

hmm, anyone have a website handy that thorougly outlines the legality of covers?

Posted by TaylorR on Feb-11-2009 07:24:

I believe you're gonna have to get a mechanical license.
royalty rate right now is 9.1 cents for every track you sell (or 6.82 cents if the owner is willing to use a controlled composition clause) and you can obtain the license through the harry fox agency. the thing is that it's for CDs, Vinyl, and cassettes so i'm not %100 sure on selling mp3s through a download site.

oh wait....this should help....

http://www.harryfox.com/public/info...alLicensing.jsp

and here's the basics of mechanical licensing.....

http://www.harryfox.com/public/info...alLicensing.jsp

Posted by Kismet7 on Feb-11-2009 07:48:

thanks.

Posted by hasbone on Feb-11-2009 16:43:

quote:
Originally posted by Stephen Wiley
We need to do some Metallica covers

Seriously - "nothing else matters" has a sick guitar that sounds even better as a piano solo. i've got the midi for it and i've tweaked it to sound quite nice

Oh hell no.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDfXiGmgUNM