Remixing & Mashups Sampling Techniques & Copyright

Question 1

What is 'interpolation' in the context of music sampling?

Accepted Answer

Re-recording a melody or riff rather than using the original audio

Answer

Interpolation means re-recording a portion of a song's melody or riff in a new performance rather than lifting the original audio recording.

Question 2

Which U.S. legal concept requires a producer to obtain two separate licenses when using a sampled recording?

Accepted Answer

Master license and mechanical license

Answer

Sampling a recording requires a master license (from the label/owner of the recording) and a mechanical license (from the music publisher for the underlying composition).

Question 3

What does 'fair use' NOT automatically protect in U.S. law when sampling?

Accepted Answer

Commercial releases that sample without clearance

Answer

Fair use is a defense, not a right, and commercial sampling without clearance typically fails the fair use test because it competes with the original market.

Question 4

The 1991 Biz Markie ruling ('Grand Upright v. Warner') established which precedent?

Accepted Answer

Producers must obtain clearance before releasing sampled music

Answer

The Grand Upright decision held that using even a small uncleared sample constitutes copyright infringement, making clearance mandatory for commercial releases.

Question 5

What is a 'sample flip'?

Accepted Answer

Manipulating a sample heavily so it becomes nearly unrecognizable

Answer

A sample flip involves chopping, pitching, filtering, and rearranging a sample until it sounds like a new creative work.

Remixing & Mashups Practice Test

Remixing & Mashups Practice Test

Remixing & Mashups Sampling Techniques & Copyright