How to distribute a cover, edits, remixes, mashups

These five examples will give you clear guidance, if you actually created a cover version that we can distribute.

1. You did your version of an existing song whereby

The songwriters are NOT from the US

You did NOT change the lyrics

You did NOT change the melody

You did NOT change the basic arrangement (e.g. Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus etc) NOR the genre

You're good to go and distribute your cover version worldwide!

PLEASE NOTE:

Make sure to fill in the composers, lyricists and publishers of the original song when entering during the registration with us.

Don't forget to mark your cover song by toggeling on "cover version".

Legally speaking, the original rights holder still reserves the right to request the take down of your cover version.

What we need from you:

The name(s) of the original publisher(s) of the song

The name(s) of the original composer(s) of the song (can be different from the performer)

The name(s) of the original lyricist(s) of the song (can be different from the performer)

You can use a work database from a collecting society like SUISA.

2. You did your version of an existing song whereby

The songwriters ARE from the US

You did NOT change the lyrics

You did NOT change the melody

You did NOT change the basic arrangement (e.g. Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus etc) NOR the genre

Please exclude North America from the distribution territories or get a Compulsory License from f.e. http://www.songfile.com/

PLEASE NOTE:

Make sure to fill in the composers, lyricists and publishers of the original song when entering during the registration with us.

Don't forget to mark your cover song by toggeling on "cover version".

Legally speaking, the original rights holder still reserves the right to request the take down of your cover version.

What we need from you:

The name(s) of the original publisher(s) of the song

The name(s) of the original composer(s) of the song (can be different from the performer)

The name(s) of the original lyricist(s) of the song (can be different from the performer)

You can use a work database from a collecting society like SUISA.

3. You did your version of an existing song

You EDITED/CUT/CHANGED the lyrics or

You EDITED/CUT/CHANGED the melody or

You CHANGED the basic arrangement (e.g. Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus etc) OR the genre

This is NOT cover version but an EDIT and you need to get the permission from the original rights holders to be able to distribute your song with us.

PLEASE NOTE:

Send us all relevant documents via email to [email protected]

Once we've reviewed your documents and approved them please make sure to follow the guidelines outlined under point 1

4. You did your version of an existing song

You used parts of the ORIGINAL RECORDING and

You EDITED/CUT/CHANGED the lyrics or

You EDITED/CUT/CHANGED the melody or

You CHANGED the basic arrangement (e.g. Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus etc) OR the genre

This is NOT a cover version but a REMIX. Remixes are very hard to clear because you need to get permission from the rights holders of the master rights for the use of the recording and the rights holders of the composition for the editing of the original composition.

PLEASE NOTE: We only distribute remixes in case they have been properly cleared! Please send us all relevant documents via email to [email protected]

5. You mixed two (or more) existing songs in to one song by

using parts of both (all) ORIGINAL RECORDINGS

This not a cover version but a MASHUP.

PLEASE NOTE: We won't be able to distribute your Mashup unless you properly cleared all parts! Please send us all relevant documents via email to [email protected]