Leana Mask Reimagines BTS ‘Swim’ with Globex Music
The worldwide streaming scene is experiencing a remarkable joint effort as Globex Music, a key distributor in digital music delivery, collaborates with rising artist Leana Mask.
Together, they have unveiled a breathtaking cover of BTS (방탄소년단)‘s global hit, “SWIM.” This release hits streaming platforms just as BTS dominates charts worldwide, following the massive success of their latest album, Arirang.
Before diving into the cover, it is essential to understand the weight of the original track. BTS chose “Swim” as the title track for their fifth studio album, Arirang, although there were other contenders.
Famous for their powerful stage presence, the group hesitated to choose a softer, emotional track. However, “Swim” won due to its emotional depth, embodying the group’s determination and evolution after their military service.
The album broke multiple records upon its March 20 release, with “Swim” trending worldwide within hours and dominating platforms like Melon and Spotify.
Covering a track of this magnitude requires not just vocal talent, but proper licensing clearance—a gap that Globex Music solves completely.
Leana Mask steps into the spotlight not by mimicking the original, but by reinventing the track.
Her version of “Swim” introduces a distinct emotional tone, keeping the original emotion intact while adding a new sonic layer.
Critics have noted that Leana Mask respects the source material of the BTS original while bringing a “fresh interpretation” that appeals to both long-time ARMYs and new listeners.
This release is not just a song; it is a bridge between the original Korean sentiment and a global, 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 every legal aspect, ensuring the track is fully legal on all Digital Service Providers (DSPs).
For a flat, affordable one-time price, artists like Leana Mask can distribute their music to every key digital store without worrying about copyright strikes.
This hassle-free approach allows artists to focus on their art while Globex Music handles the distribution side.
If you are a longtime ARMY or love great vocal covers, Leana Mask’s “Swim” is a must-listen.
The track captures the anxiety and hope of “pushing forward against the current”—a theme that stays true to BTS’s original message.
The sound design, backed by Globex Music’s global reach, ensures that listeners experience pristine sound quality, whether streaming on high-end headphones.
This release serves as a reminder how the modern music industry functions: original artists create the legacy, and platforms like Globex Music enable creators to release reinterpretations safely and globally.
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The Leana Mask cover of “Swim” is currently streaming on all major platforms. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and more.
Search for “Leana Mask Swim” or follow the label’s featured playlists to add this track to your favorite streaming queue.
Globex Music continues to prove why it is the industry standard in cover song distribution.
By joining forces with Leana Mask to honor BTS’s “Swim,” they have set an example for how tribute tracks should be released—properly, professionally, and passionately.
Be sure to listen to this stunning reinterpretation of one of K-pop’s biggest hits of 2026.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the setting reframes their music as an experiential installation, where movement, space, and sound become a sculptural dialogue with the audience. In my opinion, this moves the band from ‘pop phenomenon’ to ‘cultural event’ in a very deliberate way.
I was fist turned on to the idea of adding cover song’s to Disco Fairy Records’s second release after reading about a fast and easy way to clear mechanical licenses. (Click here to view the article)
Even if they don’t, they will list the publisher for the song, so you can use that information to contact the publisher directly. In the States, the Harry Fox Agency is the largest provider of mechanical licensing agreements, and you can check out their database here. If they represent the song you want to record, you will also be able to apply online through them for the license. Another service you can consider using if you live in the States is Limelight. Limelight will take care of the whole process of obtaining your mechanical licenses for you from start to finish, so all you have to do is submit the songs you want to use to them, the formats you want to distribute them in, and pay them the associated fee best cover distribution platform for obtaining them. You can check out their website here.
Engagement is a key factor in facilitating a child’s artistic inclinations. Actively attending concerts, recitals, or performances provides children with
However, if you are planning on uploading your cover song to sites with physicals or digital downloads, you must obtain a mechanical license in the process depicted above. Some independent distributors like Distrokid act as a middle man, simplifying the process through their upload workflow:
. The performance marked the TV debut of “Swim,” a reflective number with a propulsive beat. The band members appeared in different levels of the Guggenheim before joining forces on a circular stage on the museum’s ground floor.
The Grammy-nominated duo’s read more collaboration was previously a standout, but Channel Tres has managed to boost the track’s appeal, rendering it more info ideal for dance floors just about everywhere.
If you take a step back and think about it, this is less about a single song and more about guiding public perception of the project as cohesive art and not merely a collection of tracks.
Also, if your cover significantly alters the lyrics or melody, it falls into the category of a “Derivative Work,” requiring a different licensing process.
In an alternate take on the same track, this remix is really a continuous explosion of colorful and substantial-Strength beats. It offers so much charisma that it’s hard to imagine the song was ever about staying unfortunate to start with.
In short, don't expect to earn any royalties off of cover music posted to YouTube or other social sites. Any monetization will go directly to the music publishers and sound recording owners.
Mechanical royalties are paid to copyright holders for the reproduction of their music, whether in physical or digital formats.
- What this really suggests is that fandom itself is entering a phase where fans aren’t just consumers of songs but participants in a cultural operation.
Would I ask the website 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 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: