Final answer:
Ryan Adams required a mechanical license to re-record Taylor Swift's album "1989." This license allows artists to cover and distribute songs legally as long as they pay the statutory royalties.
Step-by-step explanation:
When singer/songwriter Ryan Adams decided to re-record Taylor Swift's album "1989," he was required to obtain a mechanical license. This type of license allows an artist to record and distribute another songwriter's work on various formats, such as CDs, vinyl, digital downloads, and streaming services. The mechanical license is compulsory, which means as long as the royalties are paid according to the statutory rate, the permission is automatically granted, without the original songwriter having the ability to decline the license request.
A sync license would be necessary if he wanted to use the music in conjunction with visual media, such as a movie or TV show. A performance license is needed when music is played publicly, like in a concert or over the radio. The public domain license would only apply if the work he intended to record was not protected by copyright and was available for use by anyone, which does not apply to Taylor Swift's "1989."