If you hit quote, the small print is normal size in the preview screen, if it matters.

Mr. Sketch is correct, though if anyone wants to get to me even quicker, use the Albany, NY airport. 'cause I'm way down south.

too much work for me.

From what I understand, the Postal Service wouldn't get paid anything. Because Iron & Wine covered the song, they likely had to obtain a license to do so. These licenses generally allow the artist to do whatever they want with a song, as long as it doesn't substantially change the song to the copyright owner's lament. As such, the Iron & Wine version becomes its own musical entity, separate from the original.

Yeah, but the writer gets royalties no matter who's singing it.

It's why Nick Lowe made a million off of Curtis Stigers' version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" on The Bodyguard soundtrack.

This is true. I overlooked royalties. However, the only royalties that the Postal Service would get would be any share they have interested in the copyright of the composition of the song. Usually artists do not have a large share, if any, in the composition. In fact, publishing companies and record labels generally retain a large amount, if not all of, these rights. Artists tend to get rights to the sound recordings. But because this particular song has been popping up in various media outlets, I'd be interested to see just what rights the Postal Service has retained specifically.

I'm concerned less with Iron & Wine licensing the song to M&M/Mars than I am with their decision to cover a Postal Service song in the first place.