The Mechanical License relates to which activity?

The Mechanical License relates to which activity?

• A. Releasing a cover song digitally
• B. Public Display of artwork
• C. Synchronizing a song with video
• D. Distributing a sound recording

Answer: (A)

The mechanical license covers reproducing a musical work in a sound recording and distributing that recording to the public. When you release a cover song digitally, you’re creating a new recording of someone else’s composition and making it available to listeners. This triggers mechanical rights, so you pay royalties to the song’s publisher/owner and obtain the license to reproduce and distribute that composition. Other options involve different licenses: syncing a song with video requires a synchronization license; displaying artwork concerns visual/licensing of art, not musical composition; distributing a sound recording involves the master recording rights, which are separate from the rights to reproduce the underlying composition.

The mechanical license covers reproducing a musical work in a sound recording and distributing that recording to the public. When you release a cover song digitally, you’re creating a new recording of someone else’s composition and making it available to listeners. This triggers mechanical rights, so you pay royalties to the song’s publisher/owner and obtain the license to reproduce and distribute that composition.

Other options involve different licenses: syncing a song with video requires a synchronization license; displaying artwork concerns visual/licensing of art, not musical composition; distributing a sound recording involves the master recording rights, which are separate from the rights to reproduce the underlying composition.