Resources

Guides to clearing a sample

Plain-language explainers, sourced the same way as our song pages — real citations, no unsourced legal claims.

Licensing basicsWhat Is a Master License? What Is a Publishing/Mechanical License?Every recorded song hides two separate copyrights. Clearing a sample almost always means dealing with both.Public domainIs This Song Public Domain? How to CheckA step-by-step check — and the trap that catches almost everyone: the song and the recording expire on different clocks.Licensing basicsSampling vs. Interpolation vs. Cover: What’s the Difference?Three ways to reuse someone else’s music — and they clear through completely different doors.BackgroundA Short History of Sample ClearanceHow sampling went from an unregulated art form to a licensed one — in three court cases and one disco record.Licensing basicsHow Much Does It Cost to Clear a Sample?There is no price list. Here is what actually drives the number — and why estimates vary so wildly.BackgroundWhat Happens If You Don’t Clear a Sample?The realistic downside, from takedowns to statutory damages — with cases where it actually happened.