If you love reimagining popular songs, you shouldn’t just be doing it for fun. You should be making money from it.
But there’s a catch: copyright laws. There’s the possibility of running into trouble for releasing covers without the right permissions, leading to takedowns, demonetization, or even legal trouble.
However, with the right strategy, you can legally release covers, monetize them, and build your music career without any copyright headaches.
Here’s how.
1. Secure a Mechanical License (It’s Easy!)
To legally distribute a cover song on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay, you need a mechanical license—a straightforward license that allows you to reproduce and sell someone else’s song.
The good news? You don’t have to negotiate with the original songwriter. Services like CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of South Africa), COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria), and MCSK (Music Copyright Society of Kenya) let you purchase a mechanical license quickly. This means your cover stays legal, and you get to earn from every stream and sale.
2. Use YouTube’s Cover Song Policies to Your Advantage
If you’re posting covers on YouTube, copyright claims can be frustrating. However, YouTube’s Content ID system allows rights holders to share in the ad revenue instead of blocking your video. This means you can still monetize your content, even if a portion of the revenue goes to the original songwriter. To maximize earnings, enable Super Chats, memberships, and affiliate marketing within your videos.
3. Distribute Legally to Streaming Services
You can’t just upload your cover song to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay and hope for the best. Digital distribution services like Highvibes can handle cover song licensing for you. We can automatically secure the necessary permissions and allow you to release and monetize your covers stress-free.
4. Perform Covers Live and Get Paid
Live performances of covers are usually protected under venue performance licenses obtained by bars, clubs, and concert halls through Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation), COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria), and MCSK (Music Copyright Society of Kenya). This means you can legally perform covers at paid gigs without additional licenses.
To double your earnings, consider live-streaming your performance on Twitch, Facebook Live, or Instagram Live and enable fan donations.
5. Collaborate with the Original Artist (If Possible)
For a unique edge, consider reaching out to the original artist or their label for a collaborative release or an official remix. Some artists are open to licensing their songs for official cover releases, allowing you to promote it alongside them and split the revenue fairly.
A No-Worries Zone
Covering songs shouldn’t be a legal headache. It should be a smart way to grow your audience and bank account. You just need to secure proper licenses, distribute legally, and leverage multiple revenue streams, so you can turn your passion for covers into a sustainable income.
