{"id":11221,"date":"2026-10-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/?p=11221"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:50:51","slug":"cover-song-video-license-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Licensing a recording of a cover song does not automatically clear every right needed to use it in a video. The cover has a new sound recording, but the underlying composition\u2014the melody and lyrics\u2014may still be protected. In the UK, GOV.UK distinguishes rights in songs and compositions from rights in sound recordings, which are administered by different organisations. The permissions required depend on the use and territory. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/find-licences\/licences-use-music-online-mobile\">Read the government guidance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does the recording licence cover?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cover recording is a particular performance captured as a recording. A licence from the recording\u2019s owner may allow you to use that audio file under stated terms. Check whether those terms permit synchronising the recording with video, monetising the work, using it for a client or brand, and posting it on your intended platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the composition?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The underlying song may have a separate rights holder or administrator. A permission to use one recording does not necessarily include permission to use the composition, and a cover does not make the composition automatically free to use. This matters whether the video uses the full song, a short excerpt or a newly recorded performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check the whole use before publishing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before choosing a cover, identify the specific recording and the composition. Confirm that the permissions cover the project, platforms, territory, monetisation and any paid promotion. Keep copies of the licence and any required attribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Music licensing can vary by jurisdiction and project. Platform rules and licence wording also change, so review the actual terms and seek qualified advice when the use has legal or commercial complexity. Do not assume that a recording licence or artist credit clears every layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Stop risking your channel&#8217;s revenue and momentum through uncertainty over music rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Find music for your next project with <a href=\"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/\">RouteNote Licensing<\/a> and review the relevant licence terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/\">Click Here<\/a> to explore your options today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Licensing a recording of a cover song does not automatically clear every right needed to use it in a video. The cover has a new sound recording, but the underlying composition\u2014the melody and lyrics\u2014may still be protected. In the UK, GOV.UK distinguishes rights in songs and compositions from rights in sound recordings, which are administered by different organisations. The permissions required depend on the use and territory. Read the government guidance. What does the recording licence cover? A cover recording is a particular performance captured as a recording. A licence from the recording\u2019s owner may allow you to use that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11223,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1838,279,282],"tags":[5364,5365,5366],"class_list":["post-11221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","category-music","category-video-tools","tag-cover-song-copyright-video","tag-cover-song-video-license","tag-music-rights-for-video"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RouteNote Licensing Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"RouteNote Licensing Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"RouteNote Licensing Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"RouteNote Licensing Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a\"},\"headline\":\"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":329,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/routenote-licensing-blog\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"cover song copyright video\",\"cover song video license\",\"music rights for video\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Film\",\"Music\",\"Video\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/\",\"name\":\"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/routenote-licensing-blog\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a\"},\"description\":\"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/routenote-licensing-blog\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/routenote-licensing-blog\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/cover-song-video-license-rights\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"RouteNote Licensing Blog\",\"description\":\"RouteNote Licensing Blog - The World of Music Licensing - YouTube, Facebook, Film, Advertising and more.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a\",\"name\":\"RouteNote Licensing Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"RouteNote Licensing Team\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/licensing.routenote.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/admin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog","description":"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog","og_description":"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.","og_url":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/","og_site_name":"RouteNote Licensing Blog","article_published_time":"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"RouteNote Licensing Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"RouteNote Licensing Team","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/"},"author":{"name":"RouteNote Licensing Team","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a"},"headline":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording?","datePublished":"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/"},"wordCount":329,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg","keywords":["cover song copyright video","cover song video license","music rights for video"],"articleSection":["Film","Music","Video"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/","url":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/","name":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording? - RouteNote Licensing Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2026-10-29T10:00:00+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a"},"description":"A licensed cover recording may not clear every right needed for a video. Learn which permissions to check before publishing or monetising.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/routenote-licensing-blog\/2026\/10\/4e67b682-pexels-rdne-8198205-2-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/cover-song-video-license-rights\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can You Use a Cover Song in a Video If You License the Recording?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/","name":"RouteNote Licensing Blog","description":"RouteNote Licensing Blog - The World of Music Licensing - YouTube, Facebook, Film, Advertising and more.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b40dcf11cfca7bde32d6e0068d9f412a","name":"RouteNote Licensing Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/df42c8211a6976e7d4ed2ec4a2df4918fc476504aad3e30d504b3ba53ab41b3e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"RouteNote Licensing Team"},"url":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11224,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11221\/revisions\/11224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}