Content & rights

Covers, samples, artwork and ownership.

• Can I release a cover song? — Yes, but you need the correct mechanical licence for the territories you release in (legally required in markets like the US). Our Mechanical Cover License add-on can secure this for you.
• Can I distribute a remix? — Only with permission from the original rights holders. Releasing a remix without clearance can lead to takedowns and is copyright infringement.
• What about samples? — Any sample must be cleared with its owner before release. Uncleared samples can get the release removed and earnings withheld.
• What are the artwork rules? — A perfect square, minimum 3000×3000px, no logos, URLs, social handles, pricing or misleading text, and no imagery you don’t own the rights to. Stores reject covers that break these rules.
• Do I keep ownership of my music? — Always. You grant Spilix a non-exclusive licence only so we can deliver to the stores you choose, and you can request a takedown at any time.
• Why do covers need a license? — Because the composition (lyrics + melody) is copyrighted by the original songwriter. The master recording is one copyright; the composition is another. When you cover, you create a new master — but still use someone else’s composition, hence the mechanical license.
• What about covers for YouTube content? — YouTube has a different system — you upload your cover video to YouTube, the system auto-detects and shares revenue with the songwriter via YouTube Music Publishing. Spilix Cover License is for distributing the track to Spotify/Apple/Tidal etc, not for YouTube videos.
• I cover a non-US song (J-pop, K-pop, local hit) — can Spilix license it? — Spilix Cover License clears only for US territory. For non-US songs, you may need to contact the local PRO (JASRAC, KOMCA, VCPMC, etc.) or songwriter directly to license in those regions. Spilix can still distribute, but the local license isn’t handled by Spilix.
• When does $15/track/year start counting? — It starts from the day you enable Cover License for that track and runs for 12 months on its own cycle — separate from your Spilix plan’s renewal date. It renews automatically each year unless you turn off auto-renew.
• Is there a limit on how many covers I can release? — No limit — each cover track costs $15/year. You can have an entire catalog of covers; each track is licensed independently.
• If I cancel cover license, is my cover release still distributed? — When the license expires, the release becomes legally inactive. Spilix may have to take it down to avoid infringement. Renew to keep releases live.