Mechanical licenses are compulsory licenses (they generally cannot be denied) issued by the owner or controller of a composition. Any time you reproduce and distribute a recording of a composition you do not control, you need a mechanical license. What’s a mechanical license?Ī mechanical license is a broad term that refers to the reproduction – for distribution or sale – of a musical composition in the form of a sound recording. Just like you need a license to drive a car, fly an airplane, or sell real estate… it’s the law! Copyright Law requires that artists and labels obtain a mechanical license before distributing a recording - digitally or physically - containing any song/composition they didn’t write. Holiday Licensing FAQ Why is licensing necessary? “Winter Wonderland” (Felix Bernard, Richard B. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) “Sleigh Ride” (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish) “Silver Bells” (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” (Johnny Marks) “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (Johnny Marks) “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) “Jingle Bell Rock” (Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe) “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” (Edward Pola, George Wyle) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram)

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” (Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman) “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) “Frosty The Snowman” (Steve Nelson, Walter E. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” (Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (Noel Regney, Gloria Shayne Baker)

“All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” (Donald Yetter Gardner) Holiday Songs NOT in the PUBLIC DOMAIN (Writer/Composer) Holiday songs that ARE in the PUBLIC DOMAIN One important point to remember: Even though a song may be found in the public domain, a copyrighted arrangement of that song may not be, so always check first. Basically, this is a royalty payment to the copyright owner for allowing you the use of the composition.Ī good many Christmas songs are public domain, but many popular holiday tunes are modern compositions that are copyrighted and need a license. Mechanical licenses are issued by the owner or controller of the composition (typically publishers) acting on behalf of songwriters or composers. Any time you reproduce and distribute a recording of a composition you did not write, you need a mechanical license - unless the song is in the public domain.

Christmas Bells by Andi Deacon