Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedABC
Soul1970s93BPM
G♯ majKey
More around 90 BPM → · More in G♯ major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Motown’s “The Corporation”), no dispute found — the same team and formula as “I Want You Back,” with co-writer Freddie Perren’s former-schoolteacher background behind the school-metaphor lyrics.
Quick Facts
Released1970
AlbumABC
GenreSoul, Pop, R&B, Motown
LabelMotown Records
ProducerThe Corporation
Recorded atHitsville West, Los Angeles
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — “The Corporation” (Gordy, Perren, Mizell & Richards)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Motown; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A Grammy Hall of Fame #1; same team and formula as “I Want You Back” (already in this catalogue), part of the Jackson 5 four-#1 cluster.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same team and formula; the preceding #1 (already in this catalogue)
Same group, same #1 run (this batch)
Same group, same #1 run (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)“The Corporation” (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell & Deke Richards)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A former schoolteacher behind the school metaphors
Co-writer Freddie Perren was a former schoolteacher, which directly influenced the school-themed metaphors in the lyrics; the team reportedly wrote about 10 verses before settling on two with the right balance of energy and innocence. No lyrics reproduced.
Songfacts · read it →
Uncredited musicians, per Motown policy
The musicians on the track were uncredited, in line with standard Motown policy at the time — and it reused the same LA session players and winning formula as “I Want You Back.”
Wikipedia (ABC album) · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A #1 hit that displaced The Beatles’ “Let It Be”
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
AB
“The Corporation” (Motown)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
Was this page helpful?
Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 21)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass