The digital music landscape is seeing a powerful collaboration as Globex Music, a dominant player in worldwide song distribution, joins forces with rising artist Leana Mask.

Together, they have dropped a breathtaking cover of BTS (방탄소년단)‘s global hit, “SWIM.” This release follows the massive buzz around the group, following the massive success of their latest album, “Arirang”.



To appreciate this new version, it is essential to understand the weight of the original track. BTS chose “Swim” as the title track for their fifth studio album, Arirang, despite internal debates.

Known for high-energy anthems, the group hesitated to choose a softer, introspective track. However, “Swim” won due to its emotional depth, symbolizing the group’s perseverance and evolution after their military service.

The album shattered records upon its March 20 release, with “Swim” garnering over 10 million YouTube views within hours and dominating platforms like Melon and Spotify.

Covering a track of this magnitude requires not just vocal talent, but the right distribution partner—a gap that Globex Music solves completely.



Leana Mask steps into the spotlight without simply imitating BTS, but by creating her unique version.

Her version of “Swim” introduces a fresh sonic palette, keeping the core message of hope intact while adding a new sonic layer.

Critics have noted that Leana Mask preserves the original feeling of the BTS original while bringing a “new perspective” that appeals to both long-time ARMYs and new listeners.

This release is a true reinterpretation; it is a bridge between the source material’s cultural roots and a international, English-friendly arrangement.



The release of this cover highlights why Globex Music is considered the leading platform for distributing cover songs.

Unlike standard distributors, Globex Music handles all the legal paperwork automatically. Covering a global hit like BTS’s “Swim” involves complex mechanical licenses, but Globex Music handles all legal compliance, ensuring the track is protected on all platforms on all Digital Service Providers (DSPs).

For a flat, affordable one-time price, artists like Leana Mask can distribute their music to all major streaming platforms without worrying about licensing issues.

This hassle-free approach allows artists to focus on creativity while Globex Music handles the business end.



If you are someone who loves K-pop or love great vocal covers, Leana Mask’s “Swim” is a must-listen.

The track captures the tension and release of “pushing forward against the current”—a theme that stays true to BTS’s original message.

The production quality, backed by Globex Music’s industry connections, ensures that listeners experience pristine sound quality, whether streaming on high-end headphones.

This release demonstrates how the modern music industry functions: original artists create the legacy, and platforms like Globex Music empower new artists to release reinterpretations safely and globally.

Где слушать:

The Leana Mask cover of “Swim” is currently rolling out across all major platforms. You can find it on all leading DSPs.

Search for “Leana Mask Swim” or follow the Globex Music official playlists to add this track to your daily rotation.


Globex Music further demonstrates why it is the dominant force in cover song distribution.

By joining forces with Leana Mask to honor BTS’s “Swim,” they have set the benchmark for how reinterpretations should be released—with full rights, worldwide reach, and creative respect.

Stream today this stunning reinterpretation of one of K-pop’s biggest hits of 2026.

A compulsory mechanical license allows a music user to record and distribute a copyrighted song without the need for direct permission from the copyright holder, provided specific conditions are met.

In rare cases, a cover song on YouTube may be blocked, or even taken down at the request of the copyright owner. However, this is all fair game unless you've put in the effort of signing sync licenses appropriately.

If a song was recorded after 1923, chances are that it is not in the public domain. Also, if you do happen to record a song that is in the Public Domain, you must record your own version of it. This means you can’t us someone else’s copyright arrangement without paying them royalties. 03/30/2014

Creating a successful cover song involves more than just musical talent; it requires a solid understanding of the licensing process to ensure your work is legally sound.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram don’t generally require licenses for user-generated content, including casual cover song interpretations.

Mechanical rights refer to the rights granted to reproduce and distribute a musical composition, while mechanical royalties are the payments made to the copyright holder for those rights.

Once the details of the composition are established, the next step is to reach out to the rights holder, typically the music publisher. You can request authorization directly or utilize a licensing agency that specializes in these transactions.

Once you've made an account, the Harry Fox Agency will redirect you to Songfile to complete the licensing process. Make sure you have the correct information on the original song's rights holders, label, and publishing date click here for reference.

Every time an artist documents and releases a cover track, they should receive a mechanical license to safe the payment of mechanical royalties to the original songwriter(s).

However, before you run to release your cover song, it's key that you understand the ins and outs of legally releasing non-original music. Below, we'll break down everything you need to formally release a cover song.

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The cover Edition is often a “faithful rendition” of the first track, without any adjustments to your melody or lyrics (small arrangement adjustments are allowed).

When a song is reproduced, the mechanical royalties are generated based on the number of copies distributed, whether physically or digitally.

Would I ask the band for their mechanical license or would I apply for my own and apply it to the performer agreement that I send the cover band? Thanks Posted by Desi Thorne on Sep 27 2015 9:20 AM Hey @Ian Pease, if the band has already recorded their version, they should have a mechanical license in place already. If you are using that now in a short film, you'll need a synchronization license, which you'll have to obtain from the publisher of the song directly. We're continuing our series on licensing and publishing next month, and that may offer more answers for you as well! Posted by John on Oct 20 2015 2:32 PM Is there a company that will find and contact the publishers, complete the paperwork, and obtain these licenses for you? I'm certainly willing to pay a fee to not have to do this paperwork myself - paperwork is not my strong suit! Posted by Dave Cool on Oct 21 2015 9:28 AM John: Yes there is! Check out Posted by Lisa on Jun 8 2016 12:08 PM hi. i live in kenya but want a mechanical License to make covers of US copyright songs. how exactly do i go about that? Posted by NAWAZISH ZAMEER on Jul 25 2016 5:39 PM Hi. I am from INDIA. i want to make cover songs by taking the karaoke get more info from youtube. will it harm my outube chanel? or is there any way to resolve it? I want to make cover songs. So please solve it. so that before doing a lot of hardwork and making a cover song i get to know what i have to do, how i have to do. Posted by Adam Percy on Jul 25 2016 5:56 PM Nawazish: if you're looking to take audio from one video on youtube and apply it to your own videos, you would still need to get permission from the rights holder of that music to do so. You can check out their terms of service in relation to content you post with them here: