Sampling may not be the #1 issue for the music industry but it’s one of note, according to Landr’s latest blog post.
The creative platform outlined a list of reasons what the issue(s) were and why to give more clarification.
What used to be a simple production technique is now a huge industry bogged down by legal debates, paperwork and overwhelming selection. […] That’s not meant to be discouraging. With the right tools, working with samples is as inspiring as it’s ever been.
The issues they listed out were:
- There’s too much choice
- Copyrights
- File management and finding the “right” sample
- Fear of sample theft
Naturally, Landr had their own proprietary solutions but they were right to bring them up. Sampling was once seen as a niche skill; messy in its execution and management but creatively reserved for producers who had the talent and the means.
But now it’s very open, which has its good points and bad points. The waters can get muddy from a creative and legal standpoint. Lo-fi hip hop is a source of contention for its popularity and perceived homogenisation. Hell, people don’t even like the term “lo-fi”.
But whatever the problems are, sampling musicians should enjoy the music they make and not stiff up the musicians they sample from. I won’t pretend that every sample I’ve ever used has been cleared.
My faves don’t have clean discographies. It will always be a murky but there are better ways around the sampling problem.