JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Micanical license Signatures

Hi. When issuing a mechanical license, do all the songwriter's need to sign the contract? I'm having the devil of a time getting the signature of one songwriter which is holding up the deal. When I signed a mechanical license contract with a music producer in Nashville a couple years back, only one signature was required. I just want to make sure I get this right. Thank you!

https://judyrodman.com/mechanical-licenses-for-recording/ This paragraph seems to cover your question, Donna. But I'm not a lawyer. Good luck!

Do I have to do a mechanical license with my own co-writers?
YES you absolutely do! If you, as artist, release a song publically that you co-wrote with someone else, you (or your label) must legally process a mechanical license with every one of your cowriter’s publishing companies, and again, do it before it’s publically released. Yes, you get your split. If you have 2 co-writers, they split 2/3rds of the total mechanicals.

Best, John

Details like this need to be discussed whenever collaborations happen, so everyone knows the legalities.
If you've got a deal cooking with a Publisher or an Artist or the Artist's Management, the people whose signatures are necessary to make a Legal Contract should be 'in on' the negotiations, advised of terms of the deal, up front.
One 'holdout' can aggravate the people wanting the Song and give you a bad reputation if it interrupts the timing.
Usually they 'want' it now for a planned 'use' or release to market by a set time in their future. Slowing it down, or ending up unable to Sign the deal because of a holdout is bad for business.
If they have clear reasons for holding out and it is reasonable to try to negotiate to their satisfaction you can do that.
If it is simply naivete' about how the Music Biz operates, you may have to be the Educator.
Work on it. Make it happen. Get product to market. One good deal that gets to market gives all parties a credential for the next deal.

Crucial Music A&R <anr@crucialmusic.com>
Mar 13, 2026, 10:03 AM (17 hours ago)
to me

Dear Elvis Nash,

Thank you for your recent submission of "Ten Thousand Angels" to
Crucial Music. Unfortunately, we did not feel it was a good fit for
our catalog, and so we are unable to accept it at this time.
for.

Pretty bad odds at 5%

Hey Ben, I've had my share of those notices. I wouldn't want them to accept music they don't think they can place. Keep at them!

Best, john

I'll send em another one , Thats as bad as pitching to radio song publishers at 5% lol , Can't win. That took 5 months for a no lol

Yeah, they're tough hombres. You can submit three tracks at a time.

This is why I am using AI to produce the demos in the genre/style they want most. I do not expect them to listen past a demo. Find out their style preferences, make it fit their thing, if they love it they will re recrdo it with humans, every one wins. I am doing that with Tammy Edwards and we have written 52 brand new songs, full produced off our vocals, music and melodies, for pennies, then the publisher (and they are major) said they are happy to get AI vocalist demos anytime. They are looking for X, Y or Z and if we give it to them in that style voice, and production, it makes a big difference, they know right away if it works for their next pitch or not. If so, they get their hand picked artists to demo it an everyone benefits.