A one-second sample can cost half a song’s revenue

A closer look

Borrowing a one-second drum thwack from a 1970s funk record can financially ruin a modern hit. Because copyright law is incredibly stringent, artists who use unlicensed samples can be sued into oblivion. To clear a sample legally, the original copyright holders often demand up to 50% or even 100% of the new song's publishing revenue, proving that a single snare drum hit is apparently worth a lifetime of passive income.