· By Bas Lefeber
Sampling is foundational to music production. Hip-hop was literally built on it. House music lives on sampled vocal hooks. Pop producers sample melodies and textures from every era. But sampling someone else's recording without permission is copyright infringement. It doesn't matter if it's 2 seconds or 20. It doesn't matter if you pitched it, chopped it, or buried it in the mix. If you release it commercially without clearance, you're taking a legal risk. Here's every legal option available in 2026, from cheapest to most expensive. Option 1: Use Royalty-Free Samples (Easiest) The simplest path. Royalty-free samples come with a...