Is it Worth Playing Covers To Make Money? (Mary Spender)

Is it Worth Playing Covers To Make Money? Mary Spender shares her experience and advice on posting cover versions of popular songs on YouTube. Here are the key points she explains:

Background on the Creator

Mary has gained an audience by covering songs from various artists, such as Britney Spears and Bruce Springsteen. This approach helps reach different audience segments who might not have discovered them otherwise.

Copyright Concerns

There is a lot of confusion about using copyrighted content for cover versions. Key issues include the risk of copyright strikes, demonetization, or channel deletion.

Copyright History

• Early 20th Century: The United States Copyright Act of 1909 allowed for compulsory mechanical licenses, enabling anyone to make a mechanical reproduction of a song without the copyright owner's consent, as long as they followed specific provisions.
• Court Cases: Notably, a Supreme Court case in the early 20th century upheld that copyright owners are entitled to compensation for public performances of their compositions, even if no admission fee is charged. This ruling led to the creation of mechanisms like blanket licenses for public performances.

YouTube's Content ID System

• How it Works: YouTube's Content ID system identifies melodies and allows copyright holders to claim ownership of the song. Depending on the copyright holder's decision, the video might be blocked, muted, or monetized.
• Revenue Sharing: If you are part of the YouTube Partner Program, you may share revenue with the music publisher. Some labels take all ad revenue, while others share it with the creator.

Cover Song Analytics

She provides data on three specific covers:

• "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits: This video earned $4,563 from 3.8 million views over two years. The revenue is split 50/50 between the creator and the copyright holder.
• "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran: With 86,500 views, this video earned only $14, indicating that the label claimed most of the ad revenue.
• "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus: This cover earned over $1,000 from 121,000 views, with revenue from ads, YouTube Premium views, and Super Thanks.

Practical Advice for Musicians

• Licensing: While one blog post suggests consulting a lawyer and negotiating royalties for cover versions, this is often impractical for most musicians. YouTube's Content ID system simplifies the process.
• Choosing Songs to Cover: Look for existing covers of a song on YouTube as an indication of whether it is safe to cover. If no covers are found, it might be best to avoid it.
• Revenue Expectation: Covers may not always bring significant revenue, and the primary reward might be exposure rather than monetary gain.

Despite the complexities and potential lack of significant financial reward, covering songs can be a great way to share music and reach a broader audience.