Can You Upload a Cover Song to YouTube?

Not Without Permission!

You might think you can just record a cover of your favorite song, upload it to YouTube, and be good to go. But legally, it’s not that simple.

Whenever you post something on YouTube, you agree to their Terms of Service, which state that your content can’t include copyrighted material unless you have permission or a legal right to use it. That means if you upload a cover song without the proper licenses, your video could be taken down, you might face legal action, or you could even be forced to pay damages to the copyright owners.

Why Do You Need Permission?

Music has two sides when it comes to copyright:

1️⃣ The Song Itself (Composition) – This includes the melody and lyrics, which belong to the songwriter or their publisher.
2️⃣ The Recording (Sound Recording or Master) – This is the specific recording of the song, which is owned by the artist or record label that produced it.

Even if you’re just covering a song, you’re still using someone else’s composition, which means you need permission (and possibly pay royalties) to legally post it on YouTube.

What Licenses Do You Need?

Depending on how you’re using the song, you may need multiple licenses before you upload your video.

✅ Public Performance Rights – YouTube already pays for this, so you don’t have to worry about it.

❌ Mechanical Rights – This lets you release a cover as an audio recording, but it does NOT cover YouTube videos because YouTube is a video platform.

🚨 Sync (Synchronization) Rights – This is the most important license for YouTube. It allows you to use a song in a video and must be obtained directly from the publisher. Without it, your video can be taken down.

🔹 Master Rights – If you’re using an existing recording (like an instrumental or karaoke version), you also need permission from the record label that owns it.

🔹 Print Rights – If you show lyrics or sheet music in your video, you need another license for that.

Bottom Line: Get the Right Licenses Before You Upload

If you want to post a cover song on YouTube, just recording it and uploading isn’t enough. You must get a Sync License from the song’s publisher, and possibly more licenses depending on how you use the song.

Want to avoid the headache? Services like Easy Song Licensing can help get the permissions for you. Otherwise, contact the copyright holders directly before posting your cover!

Not Without Permission! You might think you can just record a cover of your favorite song, upload it to YouTube, and be good to go. But legally, it’s not that simple. Whenever you post something on YouTube, you agree to their Terms of Service, which state that your content can’t include copyrighted material unless you…

Not Without Permission! You might think you can just record a cover of your favorite song, upload it to YouTube, and be good to go. But legally, it’s not that simple. Whenever you post something on YouTube, you agree to their Terms of Service, which state that your content can’t include copyrighted material unless you…