Mechanical License

A Mechanical License grants the right to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted musical composition in a recorded format — such as a CD, digital download, or streaming service. The term 'mechanical' dates to the era of player pianos and music boxes. In the streaming era, mechanical licenses are required whenever a song is streamed on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. Mechanical royalties are paid to songwriters and publishers, not to recording artists. For creators who cover songs or sample music in their content, obtaining a mechanical license is legally required. Services like DistroKid and CD Baby handle mechanical licensing for independent artists distributing music digitally.