This feature is a goldmine for music clearance lawyers, DJs, and producers looking to clear samples. It takes the guesswork out of "What is that sound?"
: Beyond data, the platform has played a role in the professional world, such as helping license songs like Brandi Carlile’s "The Story" for worldwide use in books. The Human Element The "story" of SecondHandSongs is ultimately told by its volunteer curators
Often, a famous artist claims they wrote a song, but it was actually a cover of an obscure B-side. secondhandsongs
: As of early 2021, the database included approximately one million covers of roughly 100,000 original works.
is a comprehensive, collaborative database dedicated to tracking the history and lineage of musical works, specifically focusing on cover versions , adaptations, and samples . Founded in 2003 by Bastien De Zutter, Mathieu De Zutter, and Denis Monsieur, the platform serves as a global authority for researchers, DJs, and music enthusiasts seeking the "original" roots of popular songs. Core Functions and Database Scope This feature is a goldmine for music clearance
The specific lyricists and composers of the underlying work.
Professionals in film, television, and advertising use the database to find alternative versions of songs. If a production company cannot afford the sync rights to a massive hit by a major artist, they can use SecondHandSongs to find a lesser-known, more affordable cover version of the exact same composition. Endless Discovery for Music Collectors : As of early 2021, the database included
If you love a specific song, looking it up on SecondHandSongs opens a gateway to dozens of alternative interpretations. You might discover a 1960s jazz rendition of your favorite modern indie rock track, or a bluegrass cover of a heavy metal anthem.
Furthermore, SecondHandSongs is largely curated by humans. It is a Wiki of obsession. The moderators and contributors are archaeologists. They dig through dusty liner notes and dead links to verify that, yes, this obscure 1974 instrumental was actually a cover of a theme from a 1958 western.
Users can search the database through multiple entry points. You can search by artist, song title, album, songwriter, or record label. If you are looking for every jazz cover of a Beatles song, or want to know who originally sang a obscure 1960s soul track, the search engine can isolate those specific connections. 2. The "Original vs. Cover" Hierarchy