Mechanical License basics
A nice article written by someone from the Harry Fox agency describing the basic concepts pretty well.
Your music … your dreams
A nice article written by someone from the Harry Fox agency describing the basic concepts pretty well.
If you know the copyright owner personally (a friend of yours, for example), you can write up a basic mechanical license between you and sign.
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ22.pdf (Copyright Office circular 22)
Do not assume that an old piece of music is in the public domain and not subject to copyright.
Recording someone else’s song (Covers).
Questions you will need to answer