Simply so, can you do a cover song without permission?
Once the song is released, anyone can do a cover of it and sell it without asking permission. The composers of the songs will get royalties, no matter who sings the song – but the performer only gets royalties if they're the one singing on the recording.
Also Know, do you need permission to cover a song on YouTube? When someone records and releases a song, you are free to do your own cover version of that song by obtaining a mechanical or “compulsory” license. Therefore, you need a synch license as well as a mechanical license to legally publish a cover song on YouTube (unless the song has fallen into public domain).
Also question is, are you allowed to do a cover song?
Anyone can cover anyone else's song, and its creator cannot say no (that's the compulsory part). But if you do cover a song, you must pay a royalty to the song's creator (that's the licensing part). The article covers the history of the most common kind of license you'll need to release a cover: the mechanical license.
Do you need permission for a cover?
Covers, cover songs or cover versions, are performances or recordings of an existing song by someone other than the original performing artist. You do not need permission to cover a song live. Performances in the UK are covered by a venue's PRS license but cover songs will need their own license.