Rights & Money · Topic 5 of 27
Are you allowed to just sample?
A piece of someone else's song in your track: what's allowed and what isn't.
A sample is a snippet of someone else's recording that you put into your track. And because every song has two rights, the recording and the composition, you usually need permission from both: label and publisher.
Sample clearance
Getting that permission is called sample clearance. Clear first, then release. It can cost a flat fee, a share of the song, or both.
Don't rely on rumours like "under three seconds is fine". Even very short samples can be protected.
The alternatives
- Replay it yourself: then you only need permission for the composition.
- Royalty-free sample packs: they are made for exactly this. Still read the licence briefly.
What happens without permission?
Your song can be taken down, or you may have to pay damages. So clear samples early, before you put money into video and marketing.
All figures are rough guidelines for beginners and focus on Germany. They are no substitute for legal or tax advice.
