Experiment #2: Cover Song Clearance

[Ori Kawa]

You never know when you are going to hear that tune that is just begging for a redo. You'll stumble across a song and it can give you that great idea...the tune would be great dressed in the style of your brand of dance music. You want to take it in a different direction with your own version, but it wouldn't be the same without a major element of the original. Sound familiar? Well, you can sample it. Or...you can cover it.

So then what? The original idea may not have been yours, but you added originality with your version. You might also be exposing the original writer's material to a new audience. So how do you properly get yours while upholding artist integrity? Here's what I've learned:

1. To legitimately release the song, I must have a mechanical license.

2. Royalties must be paid to the writer(s).

3. I always wondered what publishers do, and handling licenses and getting royalties to copyright holders is part of it.

Obtaining a license and paying royalties is easy these days, now that there is a company called Limelight (Limelight - The Simplest Way To Clear Cover Songs Online!). They find and contact the publisher for the track you submit and obtain the license. That seems like it could be expensive if you are covering a major artist right? It's not. $15, and they secure it for you within 10 days. Check it out.

THE TEST SUBJECT:



'Love Games' - Out this Valentine's Day (02.14.11)
Click HERE for YouTube preview.

Why do a cover? Maybe the more experimental tracks in your discography would enjoy more exposure if you pulled in fans with something they recognize, but it must be done with your unique zazz. Cover it. Thats what artists have been doing for years.

Hope this is informative or at least sparks an idea. To see Experiment #1:

An Experiment in Musiconomy - Info For Independent Artists

[Ori Kawa]

OUT NOW on iTunes, Amazon, and orikawa.com!