Can we re-record a famous song for our ad?
Yes. A new recording means you don’t need the original master, but the song itself still needs a license from its publisher. Clear the composition first, then record a version that fits your film.
Two rights in every song
A released song carries two rights. The composition (melody and lyrics) belongs to the writers and their publisher. The recording, the master, belongs to whoever owns that recording, often a label.
A re-recording skips the master. You make a new recording, so you only need permission for the composition. That can open up a song whose original recording is out of reach, or give you a version that suits the film better than the original does.
How a re-recording works
- Check the song. Find out who publishes it, in which territories, and whether the writers allow use in advertising.
- Ask before you change anything. New lyrics, a translation or a different structure need approval from the publisher, and often from the writers themselves.
- Agree the license for the composition. Media, territories and term, for the film you are making.
- Make the new version. Arrangement, musicians, singers and mix, made for the cut and the end line.
- Deliver what the edit needs. The full mix, cut-downs and stems, so the agency can finish every format.
Examples
For PLUS and the Euros, “Ich bin wie du” became “Net als jij”, sung by Wes & Wes. It came out as a single too.
For Eneco we worked with a De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig classic: composer demos, two routes side by side, the license with the publisher and the band’s management, and choir sessions in Dutch and French.
See both films in Selected works.
Questions
Do I need permission to cover a song in an ad?
Yes. A cover or re-recording still uses the composition, so you need a license from the publisher. You don't need the original master.
Can we change the lyrics of a famous song for a commercial?
Only with approval from the publisher, and often from the writers. Ask before you record, because new lyrics or a translation change the work.
Is a re-recording cheaper than licensing the original?
It can be, because you leave out the master license. The composition license and the production of the new version still cost money, so compare both routes for your film.
Can a re-recorded song be released as a single?
It can, if the rights holders agree. The PLUS version “Net als jij” by Wes & Wes came out as a single too.