Cover Versions

Hi...I'm not sure what a cover version is...is that where a person is singing a song of someone like Emmylou Harris?

Thank you.................Fancy :)

Hi Tacx, thanks for the reply. But I'm still confused about cover songs...I can be a bit thick sometimes :S. Are you saying that, without her permission, I can't record and post me singing an Emmylou Harris song where it would just be me singing and playing guitar and wishing I sounded more like her than I actually do? Eventually I hope to post songs I wrote myself but right now I don't have anything I'd show to the public :S. Ummmm, I don't know who Robbie Williams is so I won't be stealing any of his stuff at least :D.

Thanks..............Fancy :).

Remixing and doing cover versions are different things.  There are different rules surrounding cover versions. 

While a remixer must get permission from the copywriter holder, which could also seperately include the owner of the recording (ie the record company), if you wish to release a cover versions you must obtain a mechanical licence.   Failure to do so will mean you could get sued and lose all of your earnings.

A 'cover' version is one that is performed not by the artist who originally recorded the song.  None of the original recording is used in a cover version.  A cover version is a song you recognise down the pub being played by a local band but was written by someone else.  Money from the venue's entertainment licence goes to an agency collecting royalties on behalf of the original band.

Songs/music for which the copright has expired (most classical music for instance) are considered public or traditional and can be performed without needing permission or paying anyone royalties.  Copyright expires 70 years after the authors death.

See here for more info 

Edited by Virus

You see Fancy....Ive probably just recieved an email from Robbie Williams' (there goes another...) Law enfringment team - I shall be recieving a massive courtcase in....wel five mins

Recorded covers are just a bad idea in general.  With all of the copyright laws working against people like us (the unsigned and therefore "little guys") anyone on a ground level with no record company backing should generally save the cover versions for live performances.  A recorded cover version (God i h8 Robbie Williams) is just an excuse for you to draw the un-necessary attention of record company lawers out to screw you out of every penny you've got.  Should your version of the song gain public attention and go somewhere, expect to have lawyers banging on your door wanting to know why you didn't secure the permission of the authors and demanding 100% of the royalties.  Watch your sampling too, you don't want to be the next "Bittersweet Symphony" do you? 

   ..::[F I C T I O N]::..