Langalakhe Mabena
Fresh from his United Kingdom tour, Bulawayo-bred ZimDancehall muso Ma9nine real name Hansel Ndlovu has returned with a new single titled Uhluphile.
The song was originally done by Ndolwane Super Sounds in 2004.
A cover song is a new recording or performance of a song by an artiste other than the original composer or performer(s).
Ma9nine’s Uhluphile cover was produced by TFlowDaProducer.
The award-winning chanter said he did the cover because he grew up listening to Ndolwane Super Sounds and they influenced his dedication to music big time.
With Zimbabwean artistes of late clashing over copyrights infringement issues, Ma9nine said he got everything covered as he contacted Ndolwane’s management who gave him the greenlight to rendition the song.
“I grew up listening to Ndolwane Super Sounds during my childhood, especially Uhluphile. They are part of the people who made me who I am today because I ventured into music because of them.
“I managed to communicate with their management before I recorded the song and they gave me a green light to go on and do a cover of the song. So I can say we agreed on copyrights and it won’t be an issue since the song is simply a cover,” said Ma9nine.
Legal requirements for recording and releasing a cover son.
If an artiste decides to do a cover song, he or she has to consult an intellectual property law attorney before recording or releasing a cover song.
The following breakdown is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Find the copyright owner – Music copyright law in Zimbabwe protects the song owners’ rights to record, perform, and distribute the song. So an artiste who intends to do a cover song needs to find the copyright holder or owner and reach out to them before releasing the cover.
Contact the copyright owners – Once you obtain their (original composer) information, you’ll need to send a notice of intention to the copyright owner—the publishing company or original songwriter—about the song you wish to cover.
Send the letter thirty days before the song’s release and include information about your intentions to record a cover of their song.
Pay royalties – Finally, you’ll need to pay a fee to obtain a mechanical license for the song, which allows you to create an audio recording. (This license does not cover syncing or using the song in a video.)
You’ll need to pay statutory mechanical royalties for each use of the song based on the rates that the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has set forth for physical and digital formats.
You must continue to pay royalty fees for the song after its availability for sale to the public. You may not need to obtain a mechanical license for live cover song performances. Some venues obtain a blanket license from their local performance rights organisation that permits you as an artiste to perform that song in their venue.
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