Artists House Vault: Samples

In music production and recording, using samples can often create sticky situations.  Artists House has some great videos that explain samples from a few different viewpoints — legally and otherwise.

On the “pro” side of samples is Dr. E. Michael Harrington, professor of intellectual property at Belmont University in Nashville.

Legal Challenges and Cultural Benefits of Sampling Copyrighted Material:

On the “con” side of samples is John Kellog is an entertainment attorney, performer, and Assistant Chair of the Music Business / Management Department at Berklee College of Music.

Does it Make Business Sense:

Sampling has been a hot topic in the music industry and still remains to be, due to the legal ramifications of using samples illegally.  Sampling is not always illegal, however.  You can license the work, or simply “sample” pieces of audio that you’ve created, or licensed with creative commons.  For more info on the basics of sampling, check out Mike King’s A Beginner’s Guide to Sampling.

For more videos on sampling — head over to Artists House.