Do I still need a license for recordings if I'm not selling them? Isn’t that fair use?

Licenses for the use of musical compositions in sound recordings is required regardless of how you distribute your recordings (either by selling or giving away copies). “Fair Use” is a concept in copyright law that certain uses of copyrighted works may not require a license; however, a determination of whether a use falls within the fair use doctrine requires a complex balancing of multiple factors. There is no straightforward test to determine if a use is “fair use,” and you should consult with legal counsel before relying on the fair use doctrine to use a copyrighted work.