Music Copyright in the Digital Age
The art of sampling music is relatively new to the world of music. Since its debut, there have been many legal, moral, and stylistic arguments over how to deal with both artists that choose to use samples, and the artists who’s music is being sampled. After watching the movie Copyright Criminals, I full heartedly disagree with the following thesis: “The current licensing system for sampling ensures fair compensation to musical creators.”
Clyde Stubblefield, also known as the “Funky Drummer” of James Brown’s band, is the perfect example of how the current licensing system is unfair towards musical creators. One day Clyde showed James Brown a new drum pattern that he had come up with, and James instantly loved it and put lyrics to the rhythm. It has been a while since Clyde has played as James Brown’s drummer, however Clyde’s drum pattern has been sampled plenty since being in the band. In fact his drum pattern is one of the most sampled musical pieces ever and has been used in hit songs by some artists like Public Enemy, Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, N.W.A, Prince, Raekwon, Boogie Down Productions and more! The problem is that royalties were hardly ever paid during early sampled songs, and when they were, James Brown would get the money for being the ‘songwriter’.
George Clinton, of the band Parliament, is also notorious for being sampled heavily and not getting paid for it. His songs have been sampled in songs of other artists like Snoop Dogg and Rick James. George Clinton and Clyde Stubblefield both have seen their musical creations get used, and receive nothing in return. Although George said “Rock and Roll has always been lazy” he wants that to change and have future musicians create their own riffs because he feels he has not been fairly compensated.
On the other hand sometimes, an artist such as The Turtles, start a lawsuit against a band that samples their music, like De La Soul. While The Turtles should have been asked for permission to use their
Clyde Stubblefield, also known as the “Funky Drummer” of James Brown’s band, is the perfect example of how the current licensing system is unfair towards musical creators. One day Clyde showed James Brown a new drum pattern that he had come up with, and James instantly loved it and put lyrics to the rhythm. It has been a while since Clyde has played as James Brown’s drummer, however Clyde’s drum pattern has been sampled plenty since being in the band. In fact his drum pattern is one of the most sampled musical pieces ever and has been used in hit songs by some artists like Public Enemy, Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, N.W.A, Prince, Raekwon, Boogie Down Productions and more! The problem is that royalties were hardly ever paid during early sampled songs, and when they were, James Brown would get the money for being the ‘songwriter’.
George Clinton, of the band Parliament, is also notorious for being sampled heavily and not getting paid for it. His songs have been sampled in songs of other artists like Snoop Dogg and Rick James. George Clinton and Clyde Stubblefield both have seen their musical creations get used, and receive nothing in return. Although George said “Rock and Roll has always been lazy” he wants that to change and have future musicians create their own riffs because he feels he has not been fairly compensated.
On the other hand sometimes, an artist such as The Turtles, start a lawsuit against a band that samples their music, like De La Soul. While The Turtles should have been asked for permission to use their