"The songs must be originals, no copyrighted or "cover" songs. You must have all of the rights to the songs."


I think this is the first sentence in the Song Forum Post.

My first thought was that PG Music is adhering to this because it does not want to face multi-million dollar lawsuits, and thus adding a section where people can do covers is not the point--the point is PG Music not wanting to get sued. So no covers means no covers is the way I read it.

In that vein, I think it makes it somewhat confusing if people post "licensed" commercial covers even if they have the very best of intentions and mean no harm--perhaps it signals others they can do the same. But if you do it without a license--look out.

It really boils down to the law. BMI has 1099 contractors crawling every coffee house and pub in the land terrifying people. If one person plays Puff the Magic Dragon without a license, they can and will sue for tens of thousand of dollars.

It is serious business.

The comparison to YouTube should be avoided--it is still risky. YouTube has always had a strange, cozy relationship with labels wherein they will simply send you a warning then paste an advertisement on your video if you do a cover.

BUT, that does not change the law. The law is the law.

I think PG Music is just abiding by the law which is their right.

David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

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