Which Sing2Music Licence Do I Need?
Choosing a Sing2Music licence doesn’t need to be complicated — but it does matter. Use the wrong one and you could find yourself without the rights you need. Use the right one and you’re covered to practise, post, release, and perform with confidence.
This article walks through every licence we offer, who it’s for, what it covers, and — just as importantly — what it doesn’t.
Jump to a licence
Backing Track · Release My Cover · Keep 100% Royalties · Public Performance · Quick reference table
First, a Quick Distinction Worth Understanding
When you use a Sing2Music backing track in a cover, two separate sets of rights are in play.
The first is the sound recording — the actual audio file, the instrumental you’re singing over. Sing2Music produces and owns that recording, and our licences cover your right to use it.
The second is the underlying composition — the song itself, meaning the melody, lyrics, and structure written by the original songwriter and their publisher. We don’t own that. No backing track provider does. Your rights to use the composition will depend on how and where you’re using it, and in some cases you’ll need to clear those separately.
We’ll flag where this distinction matters as we go through each licence.
Tap any licence below to expand it.
Backing Track Licence
Best for: Hobby singers, casual social media covers, personal practice, non-commercial use.
The Backing Track Licence is our entry-level option and covers the most common use case: downloading a track and using it to sing, practise, and share non-commercial content on social media.
With a Backing Track Licence you can download a Sing2Music track, record a vocal performance using it, and share that performance on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook — as long as you’re not monetising the content.
What it doesn’t cover is equally important to understand:
- Distributing your cover to streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music
- Monetising video content on YouTube through ad revenue or Content ID
- Using the track in paid ads, sponsored content, or any kind of commercial production
You can also use a Backing Track track for live performance — up to 10 public or ticketed performances in any 12-month period. If you’re performing more regularly than that, the Public Performance Licence (covered below) is the right route.
On composition rights: For social media use, most platforms handle the publishing side of cover songs through their own licensing agreements with publishers. A composition claim on TikTok or Instagram is normal and typically just means the platform is tracking the song — not that you’ve done anything wrong. You generally don’t need to obtain your own composition licence for standard social media covers.
One thing to keep in mind: The Backing Track Licence doesn’t protect you from Content ID claims on YouTube if you want to monetise your video. If that’s your goal, you’ll need to contact us.
Release My Cover Licence
Best for: Artists who want to release a cover on streaming platforms and are comfortable sharing revenue in exchange for a lower upfront cost.
The Release My Cover Licence lets you record a full cover version using a Sing2Music track and release it to digital streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others. Revenue from those streams is split between you and Sing2Music: 70% to you, 30% to us.
There’s no upfront fee beyond the licence cost, and no cap on streams or downloads. You collect your share of revenue as it comes in, and we collect ours. Simple.
We handle distribution for you. Release My Cover covers get distributed through Sing2Music’s own distribution service, so the revenue split is set up correctly from day one. Once you’ve bought the track, keep an eye on your email for the next steps to get your cover live on streaming.
If you’d rather use your own distributor, ask us first. Where we approve it, you’ll designate Sing2Music as a collaborator in your distributor or label account so the split runs automatically.
What the Release My Cover Licence doesn’t cover:
- YouTube ad revenue or Content ID monetisation on video platforms
- Paid ads and sponsored content
- Commercial or client projects
If those are part of your plans, get in touch and we’ll discuss what’s needed.
On composition rights: Releasing a cover to streaming platforms does require a mechanical licence for the underlying composition — this covers the songwriter’s rights. Where we distribute your cover for you, we’ll point you to what’s needed. If you’re using your own approved distributor, many include this as part of their service (DistroKid, for example, has a built-in cover-song licensing option) — check before you release.
Keep 100% Royalties Licence
Best for: Artists releasing a cover to streaming who want to keep every cent of their streaming revenue — pay once, no caps, no ongoing split.
The Keep 100% Royalties Licence works like Release My Cover in that it lets you release a cover using a Sing2Music track to streaming platforms. The key difference: you pay a higher upfront fee, and in return you keep 100% of your streaming revenue — no ongoing split.
There are no caps on streams or downloads. Your licence covers you however well the release performs — no limits to watch, no mid-campaign upgrades. That’s what the higher upfront fee buys you.
We can distribute it for you. Every Keep 100% Royalties licence includes access to our distribution service — so once you’ve bought the track, keep an eye on your email for the next steps to get your cover live on streaming.
Like Release My Cover, this licence doesn’t include YouTube ad revenue, Content ID monetisation, paid ads, sponsored content, or commercial use — those require a separate conversation.
Important: Keep 100% Royalties is for self-service releases only. If you’re a label, manager, or other commercial representative releasing on behalf of an artist, get in touch — we’ll set you up with a custom licence.
On composition rights: As with any streaming release, you’ll still need to clear the composition via a mechanical licence. Where we distribute for you, we’ll point you to what’s needed; if you’re using your own distributor, that’s usually the easiest place to start.
Public Performance Licence
Best for: Singers who perform live using Sing2Music tracks — whether that’s busking, weddings, gigs, events, or shows.
A Public Performance Licence is required if you perform 10 or more times per year in public or ticketed settings using Sing2Music backing tracks. Fewer than 10 performances in a 12-month period don’t require a licence — but if you’re performing regularly, this is the one you need.
Unlike the single-track licences above, the Public Performance Licence covers the entire Sing2Music catalogue — Sing2Piano, Sing2Guitar, Sing2Karaoke, and Karaoke SESH. You’re not limited to specific tracks. This means you can build full set lists from our catalogue without needing to licence each song individually.
It runs as an annual subscription, automatically renewing each year unless you cancel. You’ll receive notice before any renewal. If you cancel within 14 days of purchase or renewal and haven’t yet performed, you can request a full refund.
What it doesn’t cover:
- Distributing recordings to streaming platforms
- Monetising video content
- Commercial or sponsored productions
- Any use beyond live performance and private filming of your performances
On composition rights: For live performance in a venue, the venue is usually responsible for holding the relevant performing rights organisation licence (such as APRA AMCOS in Australia or PRS for Music in the UK). If you’re busking in a public space or performing at a private event, check what’s required in your territory. We licence our recordings — the composition side may sit with you or your venue depending on context.
Choosing the Right Licence: A Quick Reference
On a phone? Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
What About YouTube Monetisation and Content ID?
This is one of the most common questions we get, so it’s worth being direct about it.
Standard Sing2Music licences — Backing Track, Release My Cover, and Keep 100% Royalties — do not include the right to monetise video content on YouTube through ad revenue, or to register recordings with Content ID and audio-matching systems.
If you upload a cover using a Sing2Music track and receive a copyright claim on YouTube, that’s a normal part of how the platform works — it’s not a strike, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. It means the system has detected the recording. A claim is very different from a strike.
If you want to monetise your YouTube cover through ads, you’ll need to contact us so we can discuss the right arrangement for your situation.
What If I’m Not Sure?
If your use case doesn’t fit neatly into any of the categories above — you’re working on a commercial project, a non-profit production, a sync placement, or something that crosses multiple uses — get in touch. We’re straightforward to deal with and we’d rather help you get the right licence than have you guess.
Contact us here, or check our FAQ page for answers to the most common licensing questions.
A Note on Licence Upgrades
If you start on a Backing Track Licence and later decide you want to release your cover to streaming, you can upgrade to Release My Cover or Keep 100% Royalties. Licences don’t lock you in permanently — they just define what you’re covered for right now.
All licences are issued by Sing2Music Productions Pty Ltd and are subject to the relevant Licence Agreement, which governs your specific use of our backing tracks. This article is a plain-language summary to help you choose the right option — the Licence Agreement is the binding document.