It’s official. March 31st marked the release of Creative License: The Law and Culture of Digital Sampling and we couldn’t be more excited to help spread the word about it.
The book, available at your local bookstore and Amazon through Duke University Press, presents a compelling and comprehensive examination of sampling’s controversial existence. Written by Kembrew McLeod and Peter DiCola, Creative License also includes contributions from FMC’s Kristin Thomson and former Executive Director Jenny Toomey.
Purchase Creative License
Peter DiCola is making a set of appearances throughout the spring, including an exciting DC event at Busboys & Poets this Saturday, April 16th from 5:30-7:00 pm. Words Beats & Life, in partnership with FMC, are presenting a conversation and panel with Peter DiCola and special guest Producer/DJ Roddy Rod.
Register via Eventbrite
More Information on the April 16 event
If you can’t make it, tune in on Saturday, April 16th at 5:30 pm ET to futureofmusic.org for the live webcast.
Here’s the latest on Peter’s tourdates:
Friday, April 15, 4:00-6:00 pm in Washington, DC
Peter DiCola at American University, Washington College of Law
Open reception + lecture/panel discussion, sponsored by the Copyright Society, the Glushko Samuelson Clinic, and the Center for Social Media. Following Professor DiCola’s lecture and multimedia presentation, Professor Peter Jaszi, Jay Rosenthal of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), and FMC’s own Senior Policy Strategist/Communications Director Casey Rae-Hunter will join the conversation with comments. The event begins with drinks and appetizers at 4:00 PM and is scheduled to end at 6:00 PM. A live webcast will also be available via WCL website. More details and RSVP
Saturday, April 16, 5:30-7:00 pm in Washington, DC
Words Beats & Life and FMC present Peter DiCola with Producer/DJ Roddy Rod at Busboys and Poets at 14th & V St NW. More details and register
Monday, April 18 in Philadelphia
Peter DiCola at Temple University
Tuesday, April 19, 6:00-8:00 pm in Philadelphia
Peter DiCola has a Junto conversation at P’unk Ave with Maxx Stoyanoff Williams from Black Landlord. More information here.
Wednesday, April 20 in Philadelphia
Peter DiCola at Drexel University Music Industry Program
Thursday, April 21, 6:30 pm in Binghamton, NY
Peter DiCola at Riverread Bookstore
Tuesday, April 26 in Iowa City, IA
Peter DiCola and Kembrew McLeod at Prairie Lights Bookstore
About Creative License
Exploring the complexities and contradictions in how samples are licensed, Kembrew McLeod and Peter DiCola interviewed more than 100 musicians, managers, lawyers, industry professionals, journalists, and scholars. Based on those interviews, Creative License puts digital sampling into historical, cultural, and legal context. It describes hip-hop during its sample-heavy golden age in the 1980s and early 1990s, the lawsuits that shaped U.S. copyright law on sampling, and the labyrinthine licensing process that musicians must now navigate.
The authors argue that the current system for licensing samples is inefficient and limits creativity. For instance, by estimating the present-day licensing fees for the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique (1989) and Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet (1990), two albums from hip-hop’s golden age, the authors show that neither album could be released commercially today. Observing that the same dynamics that create problems for remixers now reverberate throughout all culture industries, the authors conclude by examining ideas for reform.
Sample some of the ongoing conversation on this hotly-debated topic by attending one of Peter’s appearances. If you can’t make any events, purchase the book at your local independent bookseller or on Amazon and dive on in.
Official Creative License website
About the Authors
Kembrew McLeod is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa. He is the author of Freedom of Expression®: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property and Owning Culture: Authorship, Ownership, and Intellectual Property Law, and co-creator of the documentary film Copyright Criminals.
Peter DiCola is Assistant Professor at Northwestern University School of Law. He is a board member and former Research Director of the Future of Music Coalition.