We are the music makers https://wearethemusicmakers.co/latest Music tech and AI in music: the news that matters, what we think about it, and a directory of the tools. en-us Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:30:00 GMT https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/release-cover-song-legally-mechanical-licence Releasing a cover song legally: the mechanical licence, what you can't change, and who gets paid https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/release-cover-song-legally-mechanical-licence In the US, anyone can record and release a cover of a song that has already been released, without asking, as long as they get a mechanical licence and pay the writers the legal rate. Here is what that licence covers, what you must leave alone, why streaming and downloads are treated differently, and a pre-release checklist. Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers workflowscoversmechanical-licensingroyaltiescopyright