BTS ‘Swim’ Gets Powerful Cover by Leana Mask and Globex Music
The digital music landscape is experiencing an exciting partnership as Globex Music, a top-tier provider in global music distribution, collaborates with rising artist Leana Mask.
Together, they have released a stunning interpretation of BTS (방탄소년단)‘s global hit, “SWIM.” This release comes at a peak moment of BTS-mania, following the massive success of their latest album, “Arirang”.
To understand the impact of this release, it is essential to understand the weight of the original track. BTS opted for “Swim” as the title track for their fifth studio album, Arirang, even after facing internal hesitation.
Famous for their powerful stage presence, the group hesitated to choose a softer, deeper track. However, “Swim” won due to its emotional depth, symbolizing the group’s resilience and evolution after their military service.
The album dominated the charts upon its March 20 release, with “Swim” garnering over 10 million YouTube views within hours and trending on streaming services globally.
Covering a track of this magnitude requires not just singing ability, but meticulous legal handling—a gap that Globex Music solves completely.
Leana Mask steps into the spotlight not by copying the original, but by creating her unique version.
Her version of “Swim” introduces a unique emotional texture, keeping the spirit of perseverance intact while adding a new sonic layer.
Critics have noted that Leana Mask keeps the heart of the song of the BTS original while bringing a “modern twist” that appeals to both long-time ARMYs and new listeners.
This release is more than a cover; it is a bridge between the source material’s cultural roots and a worldwide, English-friendly arrangement.
The release of this cover showcases why Globex Music is considered the best service for distributing cover songs.
Unlike standard distributors, Globex Music manages copyright compliance from start to finish. Covering a global hit like BTS’s “Swim” involves complex mechanical licenses, but Globex Music handles all legal compliance, 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 dozens of global platforms without worrying about licensing issues.
This streamlined process allows artists to focus on performance while Globex Music handles the logistics.
If you are a longtime ARMY or look for emotional music, Leana Mask’s “Swim” is a perfect addition to your playlist.
The track captures the fear and courage of “pushing forward against the current”—a theme deeply rooted in BTS’s original message.
The audio production, backed by Globex Music’s industry connections, ensures that listeners experience professional sound, whether streaming on mobile devices.
This release demonstrates how the modern music industry functions: original artists create the legacy, and platforms like Globex Music help rising stars to release reinterpretations safely and worldwide.
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The Leana Mask cover of “Swim” is currently available on all major platforms. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Search for “Leana Mask Swim” or follow the official Globex Music curator playlists to add this track to your daily rotation.
Globex Music once again shows why it is the industry standard in cover song distribution.
By joining forces with Leana Mask to honor BTS’s “Swim,” they have set a new standard for how tribute tracks should be released—safely, widely, and beautifully.
Be sure to listen to this stunning cover version of one of K-pop’s biggest hits of 2026.
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"Swim" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, marking BTS's sixth song to debut at the top, and their seventh song to top the chart, the most number ones on the chart among groups in nearly half a century.[53] It debuted with 15.
This recent track blends sad beauty with uplifting rhythm, transforming the vibe to one of the most recognizable songs of the last decade. Leana’s emotional performance harmonize wonderfully over Max’s pulsating dance arrangement, creating a magnetic sound experience that keeps you moving.
A compulsory mechanical license allows individuals to reproduce a copyrighted song without needing to negotiate directly with the copyright holder, as long as specific conditions are met.
Some distributors make the licensing process smoother. They handle the nitty-gritty of legalities and royalties. It’s like having a backstage pass to the complicated world of music rights.
- The Fallon interview, the first late-night sit-down since ARIRANG’s release, doubles as a strategic media moment. It’s a curated space for BTS to translate the album’s ideas into accessible language while still staking their intellectual claim on the work.
on condition that YouTube is surely an audiovisual platform, distributing a canopy track to the System requires a synchronization (sync) license Along with the mechanical license. YouTube’s licenses protect the copy and performing legal rights for some publishing catalogs.
BTS’s Guggenheim moment isn’t just a performance; it’s a case study in how a global group redefines the arc of a modern music era. Personally, I think the choice of venue—a landmark museum lobby with a spiraling, multi-story atrium—signals intentions beyond a standard late-night slot: BTS is staging a cultural intervention, not a routine showcase.
Meanwhile, the group is all set to drop a 14-track full-length album called ARIRANG after three years and nine months. They worked on it in Los Angeles, USA, back in 2025 for a couple of months, after each of them completed their military duties.
If you are recording your own song, or a song that is considered public domain, you wouldn’t need to obtain a mechanical license for it. For example, I was recording “Danny Boy” as one of my tracks, and since the song’s publishing rights now lie in the public domain, I didn’t need to get a mechanical license for it.
Later the band responded to fan questions, including which songs they recommend to people who are just getting into BTS and whether the other musicians agree with Jin’s theory that people have two butts.
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 you record a cover version of someone else’s song and want to distribute it (via digital download or physical product [cd, vinyl, etc.]) then you need a mechanical license. A cover song is any new recording of a previously released song by someone other than the original artist or composer.
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 get more info 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 BTS cover royalty free 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 here 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: