Who owns SALSOUL copyrights ?

**fatcode** · August 2nd, 2003, 02:29 PM

I now that Prelude sold the catalogue to Unidisc ...what about Salsoul ?
I need to use a Salsoul sample and I need to contact them...

**Forrrce** · August 2nd, 2003, 02:31 PM

I don't know if this situation has changed, but Ministry Of Sound hold the rights for the UK.

**FrontPage22** · August 2nd, 2003, 03:22 PM

Yeah, MOS do don't they...they had that do your own mix competition a while back and provided snippets of Salsoul songs...

**Bernie** · August 2nd, 2003, 03:30 PM

Depends on where in the world you plan to use the music. If it's the US then it is Bethlehem Music in New York.

**fatcode** · August 3rd, 2003, 03:12 PM

What happenes if someone sample a salsoul record and once the record that contains the sample get released the copyright owner finds out ? Depends on the label that releases the record that contains the sample ?
does anyone of you have any experience on this matter ? Each country has their own rules ?
I'm aware of someone that has done that and whoever owns the salsoul copyrights doesn't know...

**NickNack** · August 3rd, 2003, 03:30 PM

In the U.S., that's copyright infringement. You could be taken to court, fined, even imprisoned, though unlikely. Depends if the owner of the material thinks it's worth his or her time and effort to sue you.

As pervasive as this practice is, I'm sure some slip by unnoticed. That would probably be those that aren't selling very well and making money. To be truthful, if I were an artist or a label and you sampled my music without permission, I'd have to haul you in. Sorry...

**Forrrce** · August 3rd, 2003, 03:30 PM

This pretty much depends on the owner of the sound recording. If it's proved that A has sampled B, B may make one of a number of demands - a flat fee, a writing credit - some sort of settlement. If B doesn't agree with the sampling by A - and (B) is fairly powerful, say a McCartney/Bowie/Jagger, they can pretty much dictate what happens to your track (and your bank balance) from that point on! B's power will be their legal representation - if your friend, say (let's make him small-time for this example), sampled a Salsoul record and got collared, it would definitely be a David v Goliath situation and he may well get crushed.

**NickNack** · August 3rd, 2003, 03:42 PM

Fatcode,

Check this out when you have time. Look under LAW AND POLICY: COPYRIGHT LAW.

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/

The penalties can be severe if the case is proven against you.

**ladyboygrimsby** · August 4th, 2003, 04:55 PM

Actually, I believe Ian Dewhirst who used to run Mastercuts has just acquired the rights in the UK. He's in partnership with someone, but I'm not sure who that is.

Fatcode, if you sample something in the UK, but don't clear it, there is a laissez-faire attitude, generally speaking. But if the track blows up and that's what you've done, you will have no bargaining power at all when it comes to negotiating the publishing split (i.e. the percentage of the song which will be credited to you as a songwriter). In some cases, the sampled artist(s) have been known to take more than 100% (it sounds implausible, if not impossible, but it's true).

If you sample something in the US and they find out, they'll haul your ass over hot coals. Be warned. I know of people who have ended up thousands out of pocket for very minor infringements.

**Nano** · August 6th, 2003, 11:13 PM

Originally Written by ladyboygrimsby

Fatcode, if you sample something in the UK, but don't clear it, there is a laissez-faire attitude, generally speaking. But if the track blows up and that's what you've done, you will have no bargaining power at all when it comes to negotiating the publishing split (i.e. the percentage of the song which will be credited to you as a songwriter). In some cases, the sampled artist(s) have been known to take more than 100% (it sounds implausible, if not impossible, but it's true).

AFAIK, that's what happened with that famous violin sample at the beginning of The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony". Now the song is credited to Jagger-Richards. And it's not even a sample of a Stones recording, but of an orchestral arrangement (made by Andrew Loog Oldham) on an obscure record. But well, we have talked about this one a while ago.
BTW, remember the Simply Red track that Marky mentioned recently? I remember listening to that on the radio and thinking "what an idea, to do a cover of 'How long' (recorded in the past by Ace and Lipps Inc.) with a sample of 'I can't go for that'!" But then I hear that it's not "How long" but a different, new song. Does someone here hear similarities too?

**Forrrce** · August 7th, 2003, 01:50 AM

I need to check this when I next see it, but I seem to recall Snoop Dogg's 'Gin And Juice' crediting Slave's 'Watching You' vocal hook as a sample, which is ridiculous considering it's a (largely) different line sung in a similar style - and certainly not sampled from anywhere. Credit where it's due, of course, but I thought declaring four words and a vocal melody, recreated, as a sample went a little too far in the intellectual rights department.

**rjosk** · August 7th, 2003, 09:56 AM

if your song doesn´t sell more than 5000-10000 copies then you really don't have to clear a sample but if it blows up then the normal rate is about 10-15% for the sampled artist.

**QUINNY** · August 7th, 2003, 12:49 PM

You're mostly all wrong.
In theory at least any sample used for no matter how few copies should be cleared and copyright fees paid to the owner. For samples this can be any amount of money, as there are no really fixed fees.
In practice, it's almost impossible for the relevant bodies to know what is being used and by whom on every single release, especially small indie ones.
So, you takes yer chances at your own risk. If you like to gamble against the full force of the law crapping on you from a great height 'cos nobody's ever gonna know...............????