Pre-release cover version

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In the music industry, a pre-release cover version is a type of cover version that arises when a cover artist releases a version of a song before the original artist does. [1] This practise takes advantage of a 'release window'; [1] it occurs when an upcoming song receives much airplay despite not yet having been released. [2] Pre-release cover versions are common in the UK because of the unique [3] situation there in that songs by big acts get weeks of airplay before being released, [3] giving cover artists enough time for session musicians and computer experts to record a near-exact cover version of the song. [4] For example, UK number one "Talk Dirty" by Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz, [5] made No. 71 the week before it made No. 1 in the form of a pre-release cover version by Select Hits. [6] Usually the original artist's record label will notice the cover version and release the original early; one example is when Can You Blow My covered Flo Rida's "Whistle" and making the top 40 at No. 38, [7] causing Rida's record label to rush-release the song mid-week. [8] Avicii's "Wake Me Up!" was intended to be released on 8 September 2013 [9] however on 15 July 2013 the Official Charts Company announced that it would be released that week [10] after a group called Spark Productions recorded a pre-release cover version and made No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart with it. [11]

A successful pre-release cover version is Precision Tunes' version of Maroon 5's "Payphone", which sold 34,492 copies [4] and charted in the top ten on three charts. [12] [13] [14] After The Sunday Telegraph tracked him down, he said that "We have currently restructured [PT Records [4] ] and its employees, [and] are in the process of issuing takedowns [of our previously released covers] and researching accounting for those releases and plan to relinquish any monies made on the nine releases". [1]

While the practice is legal, [3] the area of licensing they are operating in has been described by PRS for Music as "tricky". [15] Barney Hooper from PRS for Music said that along with record labels and publishers the trend was something they were "investigating" and "thinking about a bit more". [15]

Let's say if they chart very highly - that could be quite a bit of money that the performer who was meant to perform it would be losing out on. We want consumers to know that they are buying a track or a song that's by the people they think should be performing it.

—  Barney Hooper [15]

In the United States, a songwriter has the preemptive right to determine who will record the first version of a song, making pre-release covers less common there. [16]

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Joshua Weinstein is a New York-based music producer. His pre-release cover version of Maroon 5's "Payphone" made #9 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 34,492 copies. The song also charted at #4 on the Scottish Singles Chart and the UK Indie Chart.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Editor's Letter: Stop me if you've heard this one before". Complete Music Update . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Fake Maroon 5 'Payphone' song may reach singles top ten on Sunday". Digital Spy . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Throwing Rocks Through Your Windows: Cover Artists Beating Original Artists To Market". Techdirt.com. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Maroon 5 and the new phenomenon baffling the music industry". The Sunday Telegraph . Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Jason Derulo knocks Katy Perry off the top of the Official Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "SELECT HITS". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  7. ↑ https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/7482/can-you-blow-my/
  8. ↑ "'Fake' version of Maroon 5's 'Payphone' could reach the top ten before original". NME . IPC Media. June 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  9. ↑ "Avicii 'Wake Me Up!' (PRMD / Island Def Jam) | Release UK: 8 September | R.O.W: 17 June". brandnite.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "This week's new releases 15-07-2013". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "SPARK PRODUCTIONS". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "PRECISION TUNES". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "2012-06-23 Top 40 Scottish Singles Archive". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "2012-06-23 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 "Musicians missing royalties over copy-cat chart songs". BBC . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Must you get permission to record someone else's song?". The Straight Dope. April 21, 1978. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
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