Abstract
A cover song refers to a subsequent recording or a new performance by artists of a previously composed material recorded and released commercially by an original artist. The term cover implies that the subsequent releases of the original song are alternatives or tributes. Therefore, the original recording is the authentic, and the definitive version if copyrighted. In the United States of America, playing cover songs is not illegal, but persons are required to remit licensing fees to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and relevant publishers who own the tune in question (Harrower, 2005). The practice of covering songs ...