Release
Sample clearance 101 for self-releasing artists
August 22, 2025 · 6 min read
Sampling is fun until your distributor takes your release down. The rules aren't intuitive and the consequences are real, so here's the short version.
What counts as a sample
Any recognizable bit of a copyrighted recording — even a chopped, pitched, reversed snippet. There is no four-second rule. There never was.
What you actually need
Two clearances: one for the master (the recording) and one for the publishing (the song). Both can refuse; both can charge; both must agree before release.
If you can't clear it
Replay the part with a session musician or with a royalty-free sample pack. Most of the magic was in the choice, not the source.
When in doubt, replay it. When you can't replay it, license it. When you can't license it, write something new.
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