Putting out a version of a song legally means getting the right permissions and knowing how to use someone else’s original work legally. At Armus Digital, we help artists figure out how to legally distribute their songs and follow the rules. Use this guide to properly put out a remix of a song.
- Figure out who owns the rights
Why It Matters: To get the permissions you need, you need to know who owns the rights to the original song.
Details: – Original Artist: The person who sang the original song.
- Songwriters: The people who wrote the words and music.
Record Label is the name of the business that owns the master recording. - Publishing Company: The group that owns the rights to the work.
- Get permission from the people who own the original rights.
Why It Matters: If you want to legally use the original song in your version, you need to get permission from all the people who own the rights to that song.
What to do: – Get in touch with the people who own the rights: Get in touch with the original singer, the songwriters, the record label, and the publishing house. You might have to talk about the terms and get a license for both the music and the master recording.
- Phashing out: You should be ready to talk about rights, credits, and other rules of use.
- Agreement in writing: Make sure you have a written agreement that spells out the rules and the permissions that were given.
- Get a license to remix the song
Why It Matters: A remix license lets you legally change the original song and share it with other people.
Different Types of Licenses: – Master Use License: This type of license lets you use the original master recording in your remix.
- Mechanical License: This license lets you share copies of the remade song.
Synchronization License: You need this if you want to use the remix in a video project, like a movie or music video.
How to Get: Music Licensing Agencies: Some services and agencies can make the licensing process easier for remixes.
- Direct Negotiation: Getting permits is usually done by talking directly with the people who own the rights or their agents.
- Make sure your remix is registered
- Why it’s important: If you register your remix correctly, you’ll get the credit and rewards you deserve.
How to Do It: – Performance Rights Organization (PRO): Sign up your remix with a PRO (like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) to get performance fees.
- Mechanical Rights Agency: To get mechanical rights, sign up with companies like the Harry Fox Agency.
- Digital Distribution Services: To get your remix heard all over the world and keep track of royalties, use services like Armus Digital.
- Give credit to the original artists and people who own the rights
Why It Matters: Giving credit where credit is due is not only the law, but it’s also the right thing to do for the original authors.
Steps to Follow: – Metadata: Make sure that all metadata lists the names of the original artists, songwriters, and any other rights holders who need to be credited.
- Promotional Material: Credits should be included in all promotional materials, like album covers, internet listings, and social media posts.
Final Thoughts
You can legally make a remix of a song if you find the owners of the rights, get permission, get a remix license, register your remix, and give credit to the original artists. If you follow these steps, you will honor the rights of the original writers and stay out of trouble with the law. Armus Digital gives artists the tools and information they need to make it in the music business, including information on the legal side of remixing.
This is about Armus Digital:
Armus Digital is a platform for distributing music that helps artists get their songs heard all over the world. It lets you quickly distribute your music to more than 150 platforms, get paid every month, protect your content, earn performance royalties, and use label services. The platform lets artists upload their music, choose which stores to distribute it in, give collaborators, and make UPC and ISRC codes. Armus Digital makes sure that music can be heard all over the world and is properly made money by forming agreements with many digital service providers.