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Music Distribution

Release to over 300 DSPs including Spotify, Apple, Amazon and more.

Sync Licensing

Pitch your music to feature on TV, movies and adverts.

Music Publishing

Boost your earning potential by up to 50% by claiming publishing royalties.

Online Mastering

Use advance AI mastering to make your music vibrant and really pop.

Artist Websites

Build your showcase, draw in new fans and increase your sales revenue.

Playlist Submission

Submit your music to premium playlists and curators.

Music Promotion

Promote your music and gain access to our promo team.

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Promotion

Promotion

Music Promotion

Our leading team of professional promoters can help you from Spotify and social media optimisation to worldwide releases across TV, radio and the web.

Spotify Promotion

We guarantee organic plays with through our network of influencers.

Radio promotion

Our radio pluggers work with some of the biggest stations around the world.

Music Marketing

Everything from social marketing to music videos.

Press

Build your fanbase with targeted articles and press campaigns.
Management

Management Spotlight on

Music Management

Our managers work with you on your music where you need it most.

Artist Development

We focus on your next steps and how to boost your career and connections.

Artist Management

Connect with managers who work with some of the biggest artists in the world.

The Academy

On-demand professional e-learning courses and videos

Andrew Ash Matched with an artist manager "It's been an absolute dream ... so helpful with the release of my last single. I know so much more about the music industry and how to navigate it and felt like they put their whole heart into me and my music."

Ipek Ozsoy Artist Manager Ipek is an artist manager and consultant who has worked within A&R and with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Hamish Hawk. Ipek can help with everything from music management to PR events.

Josh Hicks New artist "After I won the Open Mic, I was scouted by Music Gateway... It's so helpful. Before I had my manager - I didn't know what I was doing."

Kym Musgrove Artist Manager "Music Gateway is an empowering platform that helps artists gain the knowledge they need to build long term, sustainable careers. I love seeing the transformation."
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Cover Songs

Who We Work With

We are an established sync agent working directly with music supervisors, broadcasters, TV production companies, advertising agents and games publishers worldwide licensing music and earning our rights holders revenue.

Cover songs in sync

Cover songs have existed for as long as recorded music has been available. An artist recording someone else’s song, either like-for-like or completely reworking it, presents many opportunities for both the new artist and the original artist as well as those looking to license cover songs.

Bespoke covers

Sometimes the musicality of a song just doesn’t fit the vibe of your visuals despite the relevance of the lyrics. Music Gateway has a network of creatives ready to flip a track upside down and create the perfect bespoke cover for your project, no matter what the direction.

Let's chat about your needs

Why license a cover instead of the original?

Creative interpretation and licensing costs are the main reasons as to why cover songs are so popular in sync. Whilst cover songs aren’t completely original, having an artist put their own creative spin on a popular track is an exciting way to bring originality to a project whilst maintaining the underlying messages of a well-known song. Cover versions are also cheaper to licence than the original recording as the master recording is available at much lower licensing costs.

Check out our cover songs of popular artists

Cheaper licensing fees

The term Most Favoured Nation (MFN) is popular within sync licensing and means that both sides, master and publishing, are compensated equally for their parts in a sync. The more famous a track, the more it will cost to license and if the publishing is expensive, the master will be too.

Owners of cover recordings often waive their MFN rights which means they’re open to accepting a lower figure for their master than the publisher. Even like-for-like recordings of famous songs are much cheaper to license than the original recording because of the reduced cost for a master licence!

Have a track in mind? We’ll have a cover for you.

Enhance your advertisement

Cover songs make great music choices for advertising – the memorability of a proven hit, and existing emotional attachment and familiarity for an audience will only benefit your advertising campaign and brand. Whether you’re looking for a reimagined classic, like-for-like recording, or even parodied lyrics to suit your brand, we’re able to source existing or bespoke cover versions to enhance your ad.

Let’s chat about your advertising campaign

Make your covers available for Sync

As an artist, you’ve most likely covered a song at some point in your career and may even have recordings. Although you won’t own the publishing of the song, you’re likely to own the master rights meaning you could be profiting from your recordings!

As a sync agent, Music Gateway represents the master rights to many cover songs and we’re keen to represent yours.

Start your representation today!

What our members are saying

“I’m a daily user, whether that’s checking briefs or pitching for sync. I’ve used other systems and I’ve disregarded them all in favour of Music Gateway.”

Tom Wells

Sync & Licensing manager

“I like the proactive route MG takes, daily opportunities and the way I can pitch specific music instead of just uploading my library.”

Paul (1812 Music)

Producer / musician

“I've been a member for 2 years. I upgraded to their Influencer tier a year ago and with this one sync alone it's paid for itself many times over.”

Jackson Snapp

Producer / DJ

"Music Gateway reflects the reality of today, movement, freshness and technology at the same time. I love it."

Pamela Pagano

Publisher, OML Sync

“Since joining during the early days, it’s rapidly grown into an impressive music licensing hub. Equally, the team hasn't lost their personal touch!”

Kathy Brown

Singer Songwriter

"The new generation of sync platforms online such as Music Gateway are a really good way to find clients"

Amanda West

Songwriter

Tom Wells, Head of Sync at Mayfield records using Music Gateway for storing music, managing metadata & sending files.

Kathy Brown is an independent Singer Songwriter who has been using Music Gateway for a number of years

Want to discuss your requirements?

Feel free to jump on a call with us, we're glad to run through your needs and our services. We’re passionate about delivering excellent results in a totally transparent way, so drop us a line.

Cover Songs: Everything You Need To Know About Cover Songs

Cover songs are a great way to get heard and recognised as an artist. Covering another artist’s material or song isn’t much of a problem when in a live environment. However, if you want to record and distribute that song as a record or a download, you’re going to need to consider a number of things.ahahaah

What Is A Cover Song?

A cover song is a performance or recording of an existing song by someone other than the original performing artist. You do not need permission to cover a song live. Performances in the UK are covered by a venue’s PRS license but cover songs will need their own license.

Why Use A Cover Song?

Creative interpretation and licensing costs are the main reasons as to why cover songs are so popular in sync. Whilst cover songs aren’t completely original, having an artist put their own creative spin on a popular track is an exciting way to bring originality to a project. It does this whilst maintaining the underlying messages of a well-known song.

Additionally, cover versions are cheaper to licence than the original recording. This is due to the fact that the master recording is available at much lower licensing costs.

What License Do You Need For A Cover Song?

In the UK, you will require a mechanical licence in order for you to record and distribute physical copies of your cover song. This ranges from CDs and cassettes and also includes digital downloads.

For the most part, copyrighted music in the UK will be registered with PRS for Music. This is where you will need to go to acquire the mechanical licence for a song. In most audio-only cases, an AP1 or AP2 mechanical licence will be sufficient.

If the song is not on the PRS for Music database, this means that it isn’t covered by UK copyright law. Instead, you’ll need to seek permission and come to an agreement with the original writer or their publisher. However, this depends on who possesses the rights to the song.

How Much Does Sync License Cost For A Cover Song?

In most cases, a sync license for cover songs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Placing a song to video, even if it’s a cover song requires a sync or synchronization license. Obtaining a cover song sync license can be more difficult than the mechanical license. You will need to go straight to the music publisher or compose to ask for their permission.

You need to submit a formal request where you will be quoted a licensing fee to use the song. Even if they allow you to release a video, the fees can be quite high.

Can I Use A Cover Song In My Film?

As long as you have received permission from the artist and acquired the correct license, i.e. sync license, you can use a cover song in your film.

Do You Need Permission To Cover A Song?

You do not need permission to cover a song.

However, if you wish to generate revenue from your cover and put it out for distribution, you will need a mechanical license for cover song.

How Music Gateway Can Help

As a leading sync agent, Music Gateway represents the master rights to many cover songs and we’re keen to represent yours. Be sure to get into contact with us for your cover song clearance; sync is what we’re best at!

If you want a bespoke cover, Music gateway has you covered. Music Gateway has a network of highly talented creatives ready to flip a track. We’re here to create the perfect bespoke cover for your project no matter what direction you take us in.

Our Final Thoughts

We’ve touched on everything you need to know about cover songs. We’ve discussed the licenses you need to consider as well as how Music Gateway can help you in the realm of sync. Be sure to get in touch with us today!

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