How do I get the right to release a cover version of a song to a worldwide audie!
Question:
How do I get the right to release a cover version of a song to a worldwide audience, e.g. on iTunes?
I have recorded and released my version of a song from another artist. The song will be released on CD, available to buy from my website and from digital distributors like iTunes. Yet when i contact the publishers they say i have to buy the 'mechanical rights' to the song for every country it is released in. I would like to be on the up here, but cannot even predict from what countries my buyers might come from. What is the actual position here? How do I cover myself?
Answers:
Contact a lawyer here. This isn't something you want to do on your own. An entertainment lawyer will be able to help you procure whatever rights you need.