Has anyone had experience obtaining rights to song 4 cover/remix?

[osiris]

I'm if anyone's tried to get the rights from a company to do a cover or remix? What was your experience?

[DMG68]

Might depend on what Country you live in. Check the Harry Fox Agency if in North America, search for the song and pay as necessary to reflect the expected sales. You’ll have to set up an account with them. It’s a smooth process, if things haven’t changed. I did it once some years ago.

[i need Help]

I’m in the USA, and many, many years ago I did a remix of Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode.

I was young and dumb and thought my debut album was gonna rocket me to fame lol, so wanted to try and not get sued lol.

I don’t remember who I called but it was someone from some record label/PR firm/whatever that I felt could give me a somewhat legal and official answer. I told them what I was planning to do, which was make an all-original remix not using any copyrighted material, and perform it as a DJ.

The guy said to the effect of “Sounds like what you’re doing is a cover, which is legal.”

That was that lol. I now know there’s Mechanical Licenses for covers, and probably since I mentioned the “performing it as a DJ” bit, the person I spoke to was probably assuming the venue I would be performing at as a world famous DJ (lol) would have a blanket license for such covers.

But I mean, to open myself up to be crucified by the more stringent users here, I’ve released bootlegs with no repercussions.

Best case scenario nowadays, social media sites like YouTube and others will detect the song (if you use copyrighted parts for a remix for example) and take all the steps for you to make sure you don’t get any monetization money from it, and instead give it to the copyright owner.

In that case, no harm, no foul in my book

[osiris]

This is what I found. Mechanical and Sync license. Technically what I did is a cover. I just want to see if Distrokid can get it distributed. I don't care about money. I checked the SESAC (?) database and it's clean. I put a Kylie Minogue remix on Youtube and all I got from Sony Music Group was a message to please put them as Publisher in the Metadata. On the other hand I've heard from people who use 20 seconds of a song for a guitar tutorial and get takedown notices. It's very confusing.

[BertKoor]

Technically what I did is a cover.

Then there ain't no samples to be cleared, which makes it far easier.

Covers are done all the time. It should be a simple matter of crediting the original authors and these (or whoever is current owner of their rights) would get the largest part of revenues (if any)

Q: Can I Upload Cover Songs?
A: Yes, with some exceptions. [...]
To upload a cover, make sure to click "Another artist wrote it" on DistroKid's upload form.
[...]
DistroKid charges a fee of $12 per year, renewed annually, to manage each cover song for you.

So I estimate the costs are likely much much higher than the revenues. Think twice...

I've heard from people who use 20 seconds of a song for a guitar tutorial and get takedown notices.

I heard such stories as well, but that was like a decade ago. Goalposts are moving all the time. Especially YouTube wants to have everything automated, with the least hassle for all parties involved and for themselves. Imagine you're the YouTube employer that has to process all complaints about vids taken down. It's all automated away.


Here is an idea: make a remix of two songs which are published by different companies. Then YouTube won't know which one to pay to

[osiris]

I think that's called a mashup. (or used to be)
You mean I can finish my Lady Gaga VS Michael Jackson - Just Dance Billie Jean remix? Too soon?