With the holiday season approaching faster than a neoclassical shred-a-thon, we'd like like to share some tips on how to navigate the most wonderfully busy time of year for music distribution.
Tip #2 - Double-check the composition type
Tip #3 - Releasing a cover song? Allow time for licensing
Tip #1 - Sign up early
⭐ We highly recommend signing up your release 4-6 weeks before your desired release date.
This allows time for any adjustments that may need to be made during the inspection process or clearing any licenses for cover songs. It also gives you ample time to promote your release!
Our digital partners like Spotify and Apple receive a high volume of deliveries and content updates this time of year, which means distributors like Soundrop need to deliver your content to them with plenty of time. If you don't sign up early enough, you may risk missing your release date.
Tip #2 - Double-check the composition type
⭐ If your song was not written by you, make sure you know whether it's in the public domain, or if it's a cover song.
Here at Soundrop HQ, we're (obviously) into cover songs and many holiday albums include covers and public domain tracks. If you're releasing a cover song, be sure to secure the proper licensing! See a list of common holiday songs and their licensing needs here.
Tip #3 - Releasing a cover song? Allow time for licensing
⭐ Securing a mechanical license for your cover songs can take 3-5 business days
So be sure to factor this into your timeline. Check out this article for more information.
A cover song is your recording of a song that you didn't write, which has previously been released in the USA, with the consent of the copyright owner (the songwriter/publisher). When you record a cover song and wish to distribute it for monetary gain, you must purchase a mechanical license, which pays the publisher of the original recording. Learn about obtaining a mechanical license for a cover song here.
If a song's music & lyrics were published before January 1, 1929, the song is considered in the Public Domain in the US. This means a reproduction of this song can be recorded and released without obtaining a license.
Please visit pdinfo.com to learn more about Public Domain works and see a list of songs that qualify. It's important to know that if a work falls within the Public Domain, only that exact version is not protected under US copyright law. Other people may have created arrangements of that work that ARE under copyright. Do your research!
Go here to see a list of common holiday songs and whether they require a license.
*Please note, links to third-party sites are provided purely for informational purposes and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. These sites are not governed by our artist agreement and privacy policy.