What about cover songs?

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:11 am

true enough, songs in the public domain (usually after a copyright expires) should not be an issue but songs still under copyright protection are still a risk to use without permission. it only take a few minutes to find the publisher and send them a note asking about it and could save headaches later... I know that as a cover band (a number of years ago) our band got permission for live performance and submitted royalties to a couple of the music clearing orgs... wasn't a big deal and didn't really cost much and we never had to worry on any high profile gigs...

ubw newbie Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 1

Most bands that do cover songs don't do them very well and aren't good enough to write their own stuff. Some exceptions are bands with their own stuff that cover a favorite, cover something that can bring a crowd back into groovin on them, or cover something so out of character with the band that everyone enjoys it.

I'm not talking about another cover of Proud Mary or Cocaine, I'm talking about a band that sounds like AC/DC doing a cover of Peter Paul and Mary, or somebody that sounds like Air Supply doing a cover of Master of Puppets.

A cover band that sounds exactly like the early years of Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath or Metallica or AC/DC could be very cool; tribute bands, yes, depending on how well they play.

Nobody that covers "top ten hits" be they classical country pop R&B or elsewise is going anywhere, only those who are mostly original make it anywhere.

That's my opinion.

Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:14 am

I agree. unless you have something exceptional as a cover, it really doesn't do anything for you except satisfy your need to compare yourself to the original performance or out of sheer joy in playing it.

Plus, if you did have an exceptional cover that a record company actually wanted to promote, your license fees to the writer/publisher may well likely exceed any income you make off it... (of course if you write really good original stuff, you might be on the recieving end of this...)

my 2¢

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:42 pm

Ok, I know this is alot of words, but may provide some useful info for anyone who does not understand the nature of copyrights:
(from SOCAN's website)

A poem, painting, musical score, performer's performance, computer program — all these are valuable creations, although perhaps no one can measure their worth. Some may earn a lot of money in the marketplace and others, none at all. Regardless of their merit or commercial value, Copyright law regards all such original creative works to be copyright material. This means that if you own the copyright in a poem, song, or other work, you have a number of rights which are protected under the Copyright Act.

Simply put, the Act prohibits others from copying your work without your permission. Its purpose, like that of other pieces of intellectual property legislation, is to protect owners while promoting creativity and the orderly exchange of ideas.

Copyright law has become increasingly complex over the years to respond to a sophisticated communications environment. In this high-tech age, there are many new ways of producing creative works as well as of imitating or exploiting them without the creator's permission. The photocopier, videocassette recorder, and personal computer digital reproduction of songs are just a few examples of modern devices that help artists communicate with their audiences, but that also makes it harder to control unlawful use.

What is a copyright?
In the simplest terms, "copyright" means "the right to copy." Only the owner of copyright, very often the creator of the work, is allowed to produce or reproduce the work in question or to permit anyone else to do so.

Keep in mind that there is a separate copyright for musical work, for example, a song, and for the device, such as a cassette or CD, that contains the song. Separate protection exists because the song and the sound recording are considered two different works.

Copyright in an original work also includes the sole right to produce, reproduce, perform or publish any translation of the work.

A copyright gives you the sole right to produce or reproduce your work, through publication, performances and so on, or to authorize such activities. Anyone who does such things without your permission is infringing, that is, violating, your rights. Naturally, if you publish, perform or copy anyone else's work without their permission, you are infringing their rights.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Get permission from the copyright holder. In writing.

Cliff

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:18 am

i had some friends in Dallas who had some problems when they did an unauthorized cover of 'Walking on Sunshine.' they gave it to a few radio stations in the area and one or two of them begin to play the song on air. this was the beginning of their problems. they weren't able to put it on their CD because they couldn't sell it. the radio stations were barred from playing it. in the end they got off with a warning from the copyright holder. they were lucky enough to be at a point in the process where they had a layer on retainer who was able to mitigate. they were close to being sued for it.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:30 pm

The thing is....just dont do covers....this is when you realize that the whole industry is about money/--if it were me../...i would love to hear covers of my songs.......so what you made a few dollars...im still making mine...hell, people would buy more of mine just to hear what the original sounded like...

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:04 am

all of our songs are covers. Razz

What about cover songs?

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