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Sampling

What is sampling?

Sampling is a powerful way of giving a song new energy or flavour. Songmakers may also use samples to act as a counterbalance to the song’s predominant emotion, to create an entirely different musical direction. ‘Samples’ can be either melodic or beats.

Sampling is the act of taking a portion or ‘sample’ of either a pre-existing sound recording or a new field recording and using it in a new musical work. It is a technique that is very commonly used in pop, hip hop & rap and EDM.

Sampling is similar to remixing. Learn more here.

Songwriter royalties and sampling

Very often when copyright owners grant permission to have their work sampled, they will also request royalty percentage shares in the new track. Again, make sure you get this arrangement in writing.

"Royalty free”

We encourage you to thoroughly read through the terms and conditions within all websites, especially where they offer “royalty free” music use. Permission for non-commercial use of beats and samples is common in website terms however, once the song is released for commercial purposes, you would find the original writer/s are entitled to receive credit and songwriter royalties.

Learn more about third-party platforms in our ‘Registering & Selling Your Beats’ article.

If someone wants to sample your music

If someone approaches you for permission for a sample, refer them to your label, publisher or speak with Arts Law to figure what’s best for your situation.

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