A cover is a new recording by someone of a previously recorded, commercially released song.
A remake is when one records a previously recorded song in a radically different style.
Since the Copyright Act of 1909, one doesn’t need the permission of the original artist or the copyright owner to record a cover. As long as you comply with a few provisions, the license (permission) to record a cover is considered “compulsory.”


The things you must do are:

Provide notice to the copyright owner that you’ve recorded a cover.
Pay the copyright owner the “Statutory mechanical license rate,” which is currently 9.1 cents per recording sold.
Account to them monthly.


****Also, according to the Copyright Law, one cannot change the words, the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work.
****Also, according to the Copyright Law, one cannot change the words, the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work.
****Also, according to the Copyright Law, one cannot change the words, the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work.
****Also, according to the Copyright Law, one cannot change the words, the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work.
****Also, according to the Copyright Law, one cannot change the words, the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work.



The Beatles’ recording “Till There Was You” from “The Music Man” was a cover.

The Righteous Brothers’ recording “Unchained Melody” (originally done by Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton) was a cover (a great one).

Whitney Houston doing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” was, in my view, a cover, because Whitney basically sang the song as Dolly had.

However, Jimi Hendrix doing Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” was a remake. Dylan’s version was simple folk-rock (and the words were unintelligible). Hendrix’ version was apocalyptic, with huge guitar riffs and great vocals. It didn’t seem like the same song at all—Hendrix found new things in the spaces between notes.

John Coltrane doing “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” was a remake. He did it just two years after the Broadway show premiered. It’s transcendental, cosmic, Eastern-influenced, 14 minutes long and beautiful.

Nina Simone’s version of Randy Newman’s “Baltimore” is a revelation, jazzy, funky, reggae-influenced—a remake.

Dr. John’s version of the Dixie Cups’ “Iko Iko” is a remake. The Dixie Cups’ song was a little sing-song thing, while Dr, John’s version is a funky, rainbow-colored Mardi Gras parade colliding every which way in the street.