Get the latest gossip

‘There Are No Rules’: Inside the Complicated World of Sample Credits

James Brown returned to a Billboard chart thanks to a prominent sample. Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn did not. The reasons can be complex.

Instead, he had been sampled by the rapper 310babii, who credited the Godfather of Soul as a featured artist on the new track, titled “Bad.” When the single subsequently hit the Rhythmic Airplay chart, Brown came along for the ride. For legacy acts or artist estates, getting such exposure is more valuable than ever: It can frictionlessly translate into consumption at a time when listening to catalog tracks on streaming platforms is as easy as pulling up last week’s releases. And in recent years, many legacy artists have sold part or all of their name, image and likeness rights, including Stevie Nicks, the Beach Boys, Bryan Ferry and Pink Floyd.

Get the Android app