>>>>>Just out of interest, what legal hoops do you have to jump through, and what does it cost to be able to cover a Beatles song?
>>>>
>>>>Same as all songs. No hoops - you don't need permission. Just pay the standard royalty rate on sales.
>>>
>>>Thanks - that got my Googling on the right track.
>>>
>>>Some good information at http://cdbaby.net/dd-covers
>>
>>The title should probably make clearer that it refers to onesown cover version not others.
>>Also, AFAIR, the songwriter has control over who *first* records the composition in question.
>
>I notice the links I've read talk about "mechanical" royalties. Does this refer to tangible recordings on to CDs etc.?
>
>I'm wondering about live performances. Suppose you sell 10,000 tickets at an arena, and you cover a song once during the show. Does that mean you owe the songwriter 9.1 cents? < g >

I think that's down to the agreement reached between the promotor and the relevant PRS and will be related to audience size. The performer just supplies the promotor with a set list detailing the songwriters - even if they *are* the songwriter. Total is probably in the low hundreds.