What is a compulsory mechanical license?
A compulsory mechanical license grants permission to reproduce and distribute a musical composition that has been previously released to the public. This requirement is outlined in Section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 115).
The HFA mechanical license is a written version of the compulsory mechanical license and fulfills the same legal requirements. It allows you to legally distribute your cover recordings while ensuring songwriters receive royalties.