We’ve touched on whether the concept of sampling is lazy or creative a few years ago (spoiler alert: sampling is creative but producers can be lazy with it). But, for many, sampling is theft. Or is it?
In a video for Berklee Online, the online school of Berklee College of Music, course author Dr. E. Michael Harrington discussed music sampling, its early days involving lifting samples without permissions, and how the artform has evolved since then. But that hasn’t stopped the issue of copyright infringements that plague the discipline (just ask Kraftwerk, Kanye West, Stones Throw, and Def Jam).
Amongst the discussions, Dr Harrington refers to the landmark case that changed sampling forever, between Gilbert O’Sullivan and Biz Markie, and the procedures musicians need to follow in order to clear samples and avoid lawsuits.
Further reading
- Academic Papers On Sampling By Amanda Sewell
- SATURDAY MATINÉE: Michael Jackson Deposition (1993)
- Fatboy Slim On The Politics of Sampling (1989)
- VIDEO: Early Documentary about Sampling (1988)
- Point Blank’s Guide to Sampling: History, Development & Techniques
Stream the video below.
