How do you clear the samples for De La Soul's "3 Feet High & Rising"? (and for Drake, Wu Tang Clan, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and more?) Deborah Mannis-Gardner explains it all.
02/23/23 • 33 min
Music Ally Focus Ep. 97: “It was sampling that revitalised – and continues the life of – a lot of music that we would never have otherwise heard... it deserves a lot more credit than it gets”
Sampling has been the backbone of a number of modern music styles, from house to hip hop. Deborah Mannis-Gardner of DMG Clearances has just helped pull off something that many thought may never happen: getting the many samples on De La Soul’s groundbreaking albums cleared so that they can finally appear on streaming services. She's also cleared samples for Wu Tang Clan, Drake, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Common, Eminem, and the groundbreaking musical Hamilton. We ask her how she gets the right people to say "yes" to letting other artists use bits of their songs.
After De La Soul's master recordings were acquired by Reservoir, Deborah was brought in to clear every sample on their classic albums. She explains to us what the hurdles are when you approach an artist with a sample clearance request; how she sleeps with her phone in case one of her high-profile clients decides to check if they can sample something at a late hour in the studio; and how she doesn't see the desire for artists to use samples going away any time soon.
DMG Clearances dmgclearances.com
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
The shortest song in the Hot 100
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Music Ally Focus Ep. 97: “It was sampling that revitalised – and continues the life of – a lot of music that we would never have otherwise heard... it deserves a lot more credit than it gets”
Sampling has been the backbone of a number of modern music styles, from house to hip hop. Deborah Mannis-Gardner of DMG Clearances has just helped pull off something that many thought may never happen: getting the many samples on De La Soul’s groundbreaking albums cleared so that they can finally appear on streaming services. She's also cleared samples for Wu Tang Clan, Drake, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Common, Eminem, and the groundbreaking musical Hamilton. We ask her how she gets the right people to say "yes" to letting other artists use bits of their songs.
After De La Soul's master recordings were acquired by Reservoir, Deborah was brought in to clear every sample on their classic albums. She explains to us what the hurdles are when you approach an artist with a sample clearance request; how she sleeps with her phone in case one of her high-profile clients decides to check if they can sample something at a late hour in the studio; and how she doesn't see the desire for artists to use samples going away any time soon.
DMG Clearances dmgclearances.com
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
The shortest song in the Hot 100
------
👋 The Knowledge, Music Ally’s free weekly newsletter: musically.lnk.to/knowledgepo
🎉 You may be eligible for a FREE Music Ally subscription, worth £399/year, via our corporate and sponsored subscriptions. If you work for a DSP, a major label, an indie label, or if you’re an artist manager, an employee of a CMO or a publisher, check here to see if you’re eligible: musically.com/subscription-options
M️ Subscribe to Music Ally's industry-leading analysis, reporting and news: musically.com/subscribe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicallybiz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/musically
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicallyfb
Previous Episode
Mental health in the music industry, and providing industry-specific support, with Jeordie Shenton and Adam Ficek of UK charity Tonic Rider
Music Ally Focus Ep. 96: Artists have been increasingly vocal about the pressures of the music industry and the impact on their mental health. And it’s not just artists: everyone can experience unique stresses in the industry. In this episode, Joe Sparrow talks to Adam Ficek and Jeordie Shenton of UK charity Tonic Rider about what they are doing to provide music industry-specific support.
Music industry pressures are unique: job security can be shaky, and there can be endless late nights – not to mention the sex and drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Meanwhile, the idea of the “tortured artist” is normalised, and those artists are then put on a pedestal.
UK charity Tonic Rider provides resources to encourage good mental health in the music business, through regular support groups, learning sessions, workshops, and training courses. Adam and Jeordie explain what stresses that artists and music business professionals tell them that they are feeling, what the Tonic Rider can do for you and your business, and how regular support groups with other people in the business who really understand its unique mix of pressures can be hugely helpful.
Tonic Rider: tonicmusic.co.uk/tonic-rider
Contact Tonic Rider: [email protected]
Most chocolate bars eaten in one minute: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/94495-most-chocolate-bars-eaten-in-one-minute
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👋 The Knowledge, Music Ally’s free weekly newsletter: musically.lnk.to/knowledgepo
🎉 You may be eligible for a FREE Music Ally subscription, worth £399/year, via our corporate and sponsored subscriptions. If you work for a DSP, a major label, an indie label, or if you’re an artist manager, an employee of a CMO or a publisher, check here to see if you’re eligible: musically.com/subscription-options
M️ Subscribe to Music Ally's industry-leading analysis, reporting and news: musically.com/subscribe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicallybiz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/musically
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicallyfb
Next Episode
How did artists who have had long, successful careers make it happen? Keith Jopling asked them and crunched the data – and here's what he found out
Music Ally Focus Ep. 98: This episode is for anyone interested in building a long, sustainable career as a musician. We're joined by Keith Jopling, of the Art of Longevity podcast, in which he talks to notable musicians - like, for instance Suzanne Vega, Nile Rodgers, Gary Numan and Norah Jones – about their careers in music and how they kept them going for so long. We ask him what he’s learned, what patterns there are in long-term success, and how you can use this information.
Keith Jopling has also just published a white paper called “Crossing the Rubicon” (link below), which charts the careers of many of the artists he's spoken to, and attempts to find out if there is a common artist career paths, how important big hits are, and whether classic albums still exist - or are even important? Keith breaks down a few different career examples, including that of Norah Jones, Suede, Teenage Fanclub, Suzanne Vega, and more – and gives us the big, actionable takeaways for you to use in your own work.
The Art of Longevity podcast: songsommelier.com
Download "Crossing The Rubicon" here: songsommelier.com/crossing-the-rubicon
Most pancakes filled in one minute
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👋 The Knowledge, Music Ally’s free weekly newsletter: musically.lnk.to/knowledgepo
🎉 You may be eligible for a FREE Music Ally subscription, worth £399/year, via our corporate and sponsored subscriptions. If you work for a DSP, a major label, an indie label, or if you’re an artist manager, an employee of a CMO or a publisher, check here to see if you’re eligible: musically.com/subscription-options
M️ Subscribe to Music Ally's industry-leading analysis, reporting and news: musically.com/subscribe
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/musically
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicallyfb
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<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/music-ally-focus-259578/how-do-you-clear-the-samples-for-de-la-souls-3-feet-high-and-rising-an-30485658"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to how do you clear the samples for de la soul's "3 feet high & rising"? (and for drake, wu tang clan, beyoncé, kendrick lamar and more?) deborah mannis-gardner explains it all. on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
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