Singing a well-loved song in your own language is one of the oldest traditions in popular music, and it still works: listeners hear a familiar melody with words that suddenly belong to them. But translating someone else's song into another language is not the same as recording a cover, and many artists only find this out when their release is blocked. Here is what changes when you change the words, and how to ask for permission properly.
A cover and a translation are not the same thing
A straight cover keeps the original melody and the original lyrics. In many countries you can release one by licensing the composition and paying the songwriters their share, usually without asking them personally. The rules differ from country to country, and distributors have their own requirements for covers, but the principle is widely recognised.
A translation changes the lyrics. Even if you follow the original line by line, the result is a new version of the work, often called an adaptation. Standard cover licensing generally doesn't cover changes like that. To release a translated version, you normally need permission from whoever controls the rights to the original song, usually its publisher or the songwriters themselves.
Why the original authors must agree
From the writer's side, it makes sense. Words carry meaning, and a translation can change that meaning, sometimes a lot. A love song can turn into a breakup song, a joke can fall flat, a line can end up saying something the writer would never sign. In many countries authors also have a legal right to object to changes that distort their work.
So when a publisher asks to see your lyrics before agreeing, it isn't bureaucracy. They are protecting the song and the people who wrote it.
Who to ask
- Find the songwriters. Credits on streaming platforms, album notes and lyric sites usually list the composer and lyricist.
- Find the publisher. Many collecting societies have a public search of the works they represent, which shows who publishes a song. The label that released the original can often point you in the right direction too.
- Self-published writers. If a songwriter has no publisher, you'll be dealing with the writer directly, which is often quicker.
If the original is old and its authors died long ago, the song may be in the public domain, and then the translation is yours to make. How long protection lasts depends on the country, so check carefully. A modern arrangement of an old song can still be protected even when the melody itself is free.
How to write the request
Keep it clear and complete, so the publisher can answer without a long exchange. Include:
- who you are and a short sample of your work
- the song, the original writers and the language you want to translate into
- how you plan to release it: streaming platforms, a video on YouTube, both
- your planned release date, if you have one
- the full translated lyrics, plus a literal translation back into the original language or English, so they can check the meaning
- a question about credits, royalty shares and any fee
Picture a made-up Azerbaijani singer, Lalə Nova, who wants to release a Turkish pop hit in Azerbaijani. She finds the publisher through the songwriters' collecting society, sends her Azerbaijani lyrics with a line-by-line English translation, and asks how they would like the credits to appear. It takes several weeks and two follow-ups, but she receives a written yes with conditions.
Credits, royalties and the title
When permission comes, it usually comes with terms. Read them before you upload anything.
- Credits. The original composer and lyricist stay credited. The translator is often credited for the translated lyrics, in the way the agreement says.
- Royalties. The composition income usually still goes mostly or entirely to the original writers and publisher. Don't assume you'll get a writer's share for translating; it depends on what you agree.
- The title. A translated version may have a new title in your language. Agree on how it's written, and whether the original title should appear too.
- The recording. Permission for the song doesn't include the original recording. Record your own instrumental, or license the original master separately from whoever owns it.
Keep the written permission with your release files. Distributors may ask for proof, because by submitting a release you confirm that you own or have permission for everything in it. CULT, for example, requires exactly that for all audio, artwork and materials.
If the answer is no, or never comes
Publishers receive many requests and some never answer. Silence is not permission. Releasing a translation anyway and hoping no one notices usually ends in a takedown, claims on your videos and a lost release.
You still have options. You can record the song in its original language as a regular cover. You can choose another song whose writers are easier to reach. Or you can write something of your own in the same mood, with your own melody and words. It takes longer, but it's yours, and no one can take it down.