You actually do need a mechanical license to do covers regardless of whether you are going to charge for it or not. Copyright law doesn't allow you to use someone else's music and give it away.

This is one reason I rarely do covers anymore.

YouTube has a policy that monitizes a cover and remits the revenue to the copyright holder. If the copyright holder does not allow covers, i believe YouTube will remove the music. I'm not 100% up to speed on the YouTube monitization policy but I think that's fairly accurate.

If you're going to do a YouTube video, simply put it up. YouTube will screen it almost instantly.

I had a video posted years ago and the last time I opened it to watch they had posted a notice that they had monitized it for the copyright holder.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 05/09/21 02:10 PM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.