Compulsory Mechanical License

Under copyright law, anyone can re-record a song that has already been commercially released without explicit permission from the original publisher. This is known as the compulsory mechanical rate. If you plan to release your version of the song for download or on physical media like LPs or CDs, you will need to pay this compulsory rate, but your license request cannot be denied. However, if you plan to release your version of the song only via streaming, no additional fee or license is required, as covers are included in the blanket mechanical licenses that DSPs (digital service providers) have with music publishers and rights organizations.