What is a Mechanical Music License?
Copyright law in the U.S. can be complicated, but that’s because it’s the result of a lot of hard-fought rights for artists protecting their work and creativity. The downside is that creative collaboration can be difficult when you’re not sure how this all works.
At Universal Production Music, we specialize in licensing offerings for film, TV, advertising and other media. Here’s the rundown of what a mechanical music license covers, and when you might need to obtain one.
A Mechanical Music License Is Narrow in Scope
Under U.S. copyright law, songs are split into two pieces: the composition (writing) and the audio recording. Two different parties usually own these rights, and there are two different types of licenses you might have to seek if you want to use a song, depending on how you plan on using it.
Noted songwriter Taylor Swift’s wildly successful “Taylor’s Version” project has highlighted the difference between owning the recording of a song, and the rights to reproduce that song in a new audio recording.
A mechanical music license applies to any audio reproduction of a song, but not use of the original master recording. So, if a band wants to cover a song for their upcoming album, they need to obtain mechanical rights to do so. The composers of the song typically own the mechanical license.
If a producer wants to sample an older recording, they would need to seek a mechanical license as well as permission to use the master sound recording, usually via a record label.
A public performance license for covering a copyrighted song during a concert is a separate license.
If you’re not sure what types of clearances you might need, learn more about how to license a song with this explainer. If you’re working on an audio project, learn more about licensing versatile hip hop beats for your own production.
Do I Need a Mechanical Music License to Use a Song in My Film?
Mechanical music licenses are irrelevant when it comes to visual media projects, because they only cover audio recordings, meaning streaming, digital downloads, CDs and vinyl. Synchronization licenses are required when using songs in a video format. This includes film, TV, and online videos.
Universal Production Music’s library is full of pre-cleared songs for use in all types of media projects. Using music without the correct copyright permissions can get you into hot water. Your art can be subjected to content takedowns, copyright strikes, and even a lawsuit. Register to access a library of high quality tracks at Universal Production Music and avoid these potential pitfalls for your next media project.