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How to Obtain the Right License for Different Music Uses

Licensing guidance for streaming, podcasts, audiobooks, music boxes, and karaoke products.

If you're planning to use music in a podcast, audiobook, music box, or streaming platform, it's essential to understand the licensing requirements and what types of licenses HFA can issue. If you are a platform that is seeking to enter into direct agreements with multiple music publishers, you may want to reach out to Rumblefish, a licensing services provider, at services@rumblefish.com This article outlines the key licensing paths for each type of usage.

Streaming

If you're streaming music via a third-party service such as Spotify, that service is responsible for securing the required mechanical licenses.

If you’ve built your own platform or website and are not using an embedded third-party widget (like SoundCloud), you must obtain mechanical licenses directly.

Need confirmation from a third-party platform? Contact them directly to verify license coverage.

Podcasts

HFA does not issue licenses for podcasts.

To include music in a podcast, you must obtain rights directly from the music publisher. This may include mechanical, performance, and synchronization rights, depending on how the music is used.

Look up publisher info using these resources:

Audiobooks

Music use in audiobooks may not be covered under the compulsory mechanical license (17 U.S.C. § 115). You’ll need to request permission from:

  • The music publisher (for the composition)
  • The record label (for the sound recording, if applicable)

HFA does not issue mechanical licenses for audiobooks or derivative uses. Contact publishers directly.

Music Boxes

Embedding musical works in a music box and distributing the music boxes is a type of use that can be licensed via the compulsory mechanical licensing provision of the U.S. Copyright Act. HFA can issue licenses for this type of use. In eMechanical, select "Music Boxes" from the "Other Configurations" field. For information about eMechanical, please see the relevant article. Please note that licenses for music box uses cannot be obtained via Songfile(R).

Karaoke Products

Distributing musical works in karaoke products is not covered under the compulsory mechanical license (17 U.S.C. § 115). 

You’ll need to request permission from:

  • The music publisher (for the composition)
  • The record label (for the sound recording, if applicable)

HFA's mechanical license does not cover karaoke products, including the use of lyrics or instrumental music intended for karaoke uses.

Use the following resources to find publisher contact info: