What is a mechanical license?

A mechanical license is a written authorization from the publisher to a manufacturer or individual who seeks the right to distribute a mechanical reproduction embodied in a phonorecord (i.e. phonograph record, CD or cassette tape) for a specific copyrighted musical composition. A mechanical license is not necessary to simply record the song; however, it is absolutely necessary if you intend to manufacture and distribute any number of copies of your phonorecord