Release covers (legally) with Cover Song licenses from Amuse
When you’re trying to break through, covers are a smart play. They’re familiar to listeners, they travel fast on socials, and they can funnel new fans straight to your original music. Think about how some huge artists first built momentum by singing other people’s songs online, Justin Bieber famously posted covers on YouTube before his breakout, and Dua Lipa uploaded covers as a teen to get her voice in front of people. In addition to being bold or beautiful interpretations of someone else’s song, covers can be like SEO for your music. Fans search the web and your version can surface, earn saves, and introduce them to everything else you make. The catch? copyright headaches. That’s where Amuse comes in.
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Cover song licenses from Amuse
We’ve launched Cover Song licenses so you can release covers legally and focus on the creative bit. Here’s what you get:
One-time setup, zero renewal chasing
Clear the composition once and release your cover. Annual renewals are automated.Fewer takedown worries
We handle licensing via your royalties so the original songwriters/publishers get paid — meaning you can release confidently. (You still can’t use the original master or change core lyrics/melody — more on that below.)Simple, in-flow experience
Pick your song, upload your recording, and we’ll guide you through the rest.
While other platforms bundle cover licensing into pricier monthly subscriptions or require you to keep track of renewals year after year, Amuse keeps it simple. With a single one-time payment, your cover stays cleared and live — no extra admin, no recurring costs, and no stress about takedowns.
Why covers are still a growth hack
Built-in demand
You’re meeting listeners where interest already exists. Great for algorithmic discovery and playlist momentum.Fast feedback loop
Covers convert casual scrollers into profile visitors and followers — the perfect bridge to your originals.Storytelling through interpretation
A strong arrangement shows taste, vocal identity, and production chops. It’s not a copy. It’s your voice, strategically applied.
And this isn’t just theory. Viral covers have opened real doors — Walk off the Earth’s five-people-one-guitar take on Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” exploded online and helped land them a record deal. Adjacent to covers, interpolations/samples can also cut through — see Doechii’s “What It Is (Block Boy),” which leans on Trillville’s “Some Cut.”
How Amuse cover licensing works
Choose the song you want to cover and record your own performance. (Don’t use the original master or any uncleared samples.)
Upload to Amuse and select the Cover Song license option. We take care of the composition license so songwriters get paid out of your royalties.
Release everywhere with a clean paper trail. Share your smartlink, stack pre-saves, and point new listeners to your latest originals.
Creative guardrails (so you don’t get tripped up)
We’ll keep this crisp and human:
Covers license the composition (songwriting), not the original sound recording (master). Use your own recording.
You can arrange the song in your style, but you can’t change the fundamental melody or core lyrics under the standard cover (compulsory mechanical) framework. Big lyric rewrites, translations, or mashups with other copyrighted works are not covered by a basic cover license.
Sampling the original track is not a cover — that needs master clearance. (Different license, different process.)
Go from covers to original fans
Releasing a cover is just the first step. The real magic happens when you turn the listeners who discover you through a familiar song into loyal fans of your own music. By choosing the right covers, putting your spin on them, and planning smart follow-ups, you can transform one-off streams into long-term growth for your artist career. Here’s how to move fans from covers to originals:
Pick covers strategically
Choose songs with steady search interest that fit your lane (era, genre, vibe) so your audience for the cover is likely to love your own releases too.Make it “you”
Swap instrumentation, tempo, or harmony feels to showcase your sound, while keeping the core composition intact.Release in a cadence
Pair your cover with a follow-up original within 2–4 weeks. Use the cover’s smartlink and end-screen call-to-actions to steer listeners to the new single.Convert with Auto-save
Artists who take advantage of the new Auto-save feature on their covers can already have a ready audience, with all future original music appearing directly in the listener’s music library.Upgrade your funnel
Add pre-saves and fan email capture on your smartlinks to keep new listeners close for your next drop.
Ready to get discovered with a cover?Pick the song you want to put your stamp on, and we’ll handle the paperwork. Powered by Easy Song.
