What is the difference between a Synch License and a Mechanical License?
A synch license is required when you would like to use a song in synchronization with something else like a film, TV show, or TV advertisement where the music is synchronized with the images. A mechanical license grants the right to sell or distribute copies of a recorded song via retail, download etc., or even when given away for free. If you are recording a new version (or a “cover”) of a song, please contact our exclusive licensing agent, The Harry Fox Agency, at www.harryfox.com for a mechanical license. Special permission is not needed for mechanical licensing as long as you are not altering the melody and lyric, and the song has been released to the public at least once before. Mechanical Licenses are sometimes referred to as Compulsory Licenses. The current US statutory royalty rate for a mechanical license is 9.1 cents per song, for each copy distributed. If you would like to release an existing master recording of a song on a CD or download, in addition to acquiring a mechanic
