<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
I'm a struggling musician and I'm wondering how I can cover popular songs without having to pay royalties or even acknowledging that I'm covering popular songs.
<|assistant|>
There are a few options if you're looking to record cover songs without paying royalties. The easiest is by getting a license from a compusory mechanical rights organization (CMRO), like theASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. These organizations license music to songwriters, publishers, and businesses for use of their works, so registering with them gives you authorization to record and publish cover songs. If you're looking to record an entire album of cover songs, consider contacting the copyright owner of the song and ask for permission, even if you're not sure if they're a fan of your work. This could be a great opportunity to showcase your own creativity in an already existing piece of music. Finally, if you're not interested in paying royalties or contacting copyright owners, then consider doing a cover as an "homage" to the artist, paying your respects while being clear that the original work is not yours.