What Is a Cover Song?
A Complete Guide by P Tune Studio
A cover song is simply a new performance of a previously released track, recorded by an artist or group who isn’t the original creator. Artists cover songs for all kinds of reasons — to honor a legendary musician, express their own style, experiment creatively, or bring a classic song to a new generation of listeners.
Covering a song gives musicians the chance to add their own personality to a track that people already recognize and love.
What Counts as a Cover Song?
For your track to be officially considered a cover, it must meet these conditions:
✔ Keep the Original Composition
The lyrics, melody, chord progression, and structure must remain the same.
✔ Create a Completely New Recording
You must re-record every part of the track yourself.
No copying, lifting, or extracting anything from the original recording.
✔ No Samples From the Original
You cannot use any element of the original sound recording — not even one second.
If you change too much of the composition, the track may no longer be a cover.
(For example: changing lyrics, altering sections, or adding new musical parts could turn it into a derivative work, which requires different licensing.)
❌ A cover song license does not cover:
- Remixes
- Mashups
- Samples
- Edits using the original recording
These all require other licenses and approvals.
How Cover Song Licensing Works
When you release a cover, the original songwriters must receive mechanical royalties.
✔ Most Territories
P Tune Studio works with royalty-collection systems like The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) to ensure:
- The original songwriter gets paid
- Your streams are tracked correctly
- You receive your artist share without any extra steps
If your release is distributed in territories covered by the MLC, you don’t need to get a separate mechanical license yourself.
❌ Excluded Territories
The MLC does not operate in:
- Mexico
- Canada
- India
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
If you want your cover song distributed in these countries, you must obtain a separate mechanical license for the track.
P Tune Studio cannot acquire this license for you.
How to Release a Cover Song with P Tune Studio
If you’re unsure about licensing or need help confirming the publishing info, Songfile is a reliable tool for checking copyright and royalty information.
When uploading your cover, accurate metadata is extremely important.
1. Track Title
Use the original song title — nothing extra.
✔ Correct
- “My Way”
- “My Way (Acoustic Version)”
❌ Incorrect
- “My Way (Cover)”
- “My Way (Cover of Frank Sinatra)”
- “My Way (Tribute)”
Do not add the original artist’s name or the word “cover” anywhere in the track title.
2. Publishing Information
This is where proper crediting matters the most.
When filling out metadata on your P Tune Studio dashboard:
✔ Credit the Original Songwriter(s)
At least one original songwriter must be listed.
This determines who receives royalties — accuracy is crucial.
✔ Credit the Original Performing Artist
Add the original artist’s name only in the publishing info.
❌ Do NOT
Add the original artist as:
- A featured artist
- A primary artist
- A remixer
- Or anywhere in the main artist fields
These credits belong only in the publishing metadata.
How Much Does It Cost to Release a Cover Song with P Tune Studio?
Good news — there are no extra fees for releasing a cover song with P Tune Studio.
Cover releases are included in your distribution deal and follow your existing royalty-share agreement.
The MLC will collect a portion per stream to pay the original songwriter(s), but P Tune Studio does not charge anything additional for cover distribution.
That’s a Wrap!
If you have more questions or want help preparing your cover for release, our team at P Tune Studio is ready to guide you through licensing, metadata, and distribution so everything is set up legally and correctly.
Just reach out through our support chat — we’re here to help you move forward the right way.