Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedIn the Air Tonight
Art Pop1980s95BPM
D minKey
More around 100 BPM → · More in D minor →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Phil Collins), no dispute found — a clean case famous for its entirely accidental gated-reverb drum sound.
Quick Facts
Released1981
AlbumFace Value
GenreArt Pop, Rock
LabelVirgin / Atlantic
ProducerPhil Collins · Hugh Padgham
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Phil Collins
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Atlantic (US); needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — an official Lil’ Kim duet reworking (2001 “Urban Renewal” tribute album); a much-covered rock landmark.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Phil Collins
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
The gated-reverb sound was a total accident
While Collins drummed on Peter Gabriel’s 1979 album, his drums were accidentally recorded through a heavily-compressed talkback mic; producer Hugh Padgham ran that through a noise gate that cut the sound off right after it started — creating the massive sound entirely by accident. Gabriel’s “Intruder” was actually the first released track to use it.
American Songwriter / MusicRadar · read it →
The famous fill was one spontaneous take
Collins has said plainly he didn’t plan the best possible fill — he simply played it, in a single take. Ozzy Osbourne has called the drum fill “the best ever.”
MusicRadar / Wikipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Lil’ Kim duet (“In the Air Tonite,” 2001)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itLil’ Kim
Who to Contact
IA
Phil Collins
The confirmed songwriter 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 →
References
Every source cited on this page — 3 in total
Was this page helpful?
Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 8)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass