Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedGenius of Love
Funk1980s103BPM
D majKey
More around 100 BPM → · More in D major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record and a genuinely clean, mutually-beneficial precedent of direct clearance repeated across generations (Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” Latto’s “Big Energy”). No dispute found.
Used by independents?
No — no independent use documented so far; only major-label artists.
Quick Facts
Released1981
GenreFunk, New Wave, Dance
LabelSire / Warner Bros.
ProducerSteven Stanley
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley & Tina Weymouth
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Sire / Warner Music Group (Sire is a WMG imprint) — not independently confirmed this pass
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — famously sampled in Mariah Carey’s #1 “Fantasy” (1995) and again in Latto’s “Big Energy” (2021); a beloved, widely-reused club record.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found, but a documented, direct, mutually-beneficial clearance history — the band signed over rights promptly and enthusiastically.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Her 1995 #1 built on a “Genius of Love” sample, cleared directly with the band
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley & Tina Weymouth
The recording (current administrator)Sire / Warner Music Group
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A respectful, direct clearance — by the artist’s own account
Mariah Carey described her childhood nostalgia for the song as the direct inspiration for sampling it in “Fantasy”; when she and producer Dave “Jam” Hall reached out directly, Tom Tom Club was reportedly enthusiastic and signed over the rights promptly.
Wikipedia (Fantasy) · read it →
A candid admission about sample-negotiation tradeoffs
Tina Weymouth told the Hartford Courant (2000) that if the band had held out for what they felt they deserved, the deal never would have happened — but a smaller share of “Fantasy”’s ~$8 million in sales still went a long way, directly funding the band’s next album.
Ultimate Classic Rock · read it →
Adrian Belew didn’t know he was on it
King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew played on the track and holds a genuine songwriting credit — but reportedly didn’t realize he was on the record until a fan asked him to autograph it years later.
Songfacts (Fantasy) · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Mariah Carey “Fantasy” · Latto “Big Energy”
Covers
1995
First flip
Big names who used itMariah Carey · Latto
Who to Contact
TT
Tom Tom Club (Belew, Frantz, Stanley, Weymouth)
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 →
References
Every source cited on this page — 4 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (SEO Batch)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass