New way of 'clearing' samples?

I have just made a small research on the new Prodigy's mixtape called Return of the Mac. This is what I found: Sources say “Mobb Deep’s Prodigy and producer Alchemist recently completed a mixtape, Return Of The Mac, which may be released as an official album. Alchemist told MTV.com, “We already did videos for it and everything. P did three videos. It’s P bugging out. It’s dope.” The producer added, “Now that 50 (Cent) heard it, he’s trying to figure out how we could put it out officially. But there’s no way it can come out officially. It’s riddled with samples. If they try to put it out for real, they’ll ruin it.”
The whole thing seems to be a regular album-14 new tracks! Is calling it a mixtape a way around cleaning the samples? If I understand it well, they do not clear the samples on the mixtape, call it a mixtape and try to give it a distribution of a regular album.

ummm no, if your making a profit off it or making it availible to the public, ou still gotta clear the samples or they can come after you for it.

Rob

So why do they call it a mixtape and cannot make it a regular album? I need to learn a bit more about the music industry.

probably wont get as much exposure as a mixtape and registered owner of samples is less likely to find out or get mad. if its a commercial release the owner will be like that hit song in that video with all the money, cars and girls is filled with my music, i should be gettin a piece of that. then the lawsuits begin...

did you mean: probably wont get as much exposure as an album? Yeah, you are probably right. Anyway, I am happy they still find a way how to get this thing spread between the people.

"if your making a profit off it or making it availible to the public"

I saw this album/mixtape retailing for $12 in Walmart and Future shop

Quote wrote:So why do they call it a mixtape and cannot make it a regular album? I need to learn a bit more about the music industry.

nah your right,i read up on it too..making it a mini album/mixtape is a way around clearing the samples.besides P is makin money off it.jus go to hiphopsite.com,there selling it

call an album what u want , its not a factor when ur getting sued. you cant sell music containing samples without permission at big corporate chain stores without the risk of getting sued. many artist/record labels will put thier shit on the streets, intended to be bootlegged for promotional purposes.

when u see mobb deep and nas mixtapes in stores like walmart, fye,ect. its just the name of the album, is not really a mixtape, its an official release. its just cashing in on a collection of tracks that never made it on previous albums.

pretty much, mixtapes where the samples/songs haven't been cleared for use are illegal. The way they get away with it is by staying under the radar. They can't send it through regular distribution channels, can't promote it using label resources, no royalties, no publishing monies, no soundscan, etc...

Mixtapes started their lives as just what the name indicates: a mix of already released music intended for local or small scale distribution. As the industry has evolved, the mixtape has also evolved into an outlet for artists that would otherwise be locked out of the game, as well as a key promotional tool for artists in the game. That's why this is so scary because they try'na close that doorway into the game a little tighter:

http://mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=31510

Artists don't get that much money for mixtapes. They may charge to host someone else's mixtape, or they may sell their own mixtape to a main distributor, who then turns around and sells it to the bootleggers, etc. Most of the money is made by bootleggers. And unknown artists who are trying to build a buzz typically will have to pay to get their material on a mixtape that's worth anything.

mixtapes are supposed to be for promo use only....

beat street in bk used to have a wall of "free" mixtapes
BUT....u had to buy a CD case to get a free mixtape

jaem wrote:mixtapes are supposed to be for promo use only....

beat street in bk used to have a wall of "free" mixtapes
BUT....u had to buy a CD case to get a free mixtape

thats some smart sh*t yo

i see that all the time in California, itll be like buy a sticker for 10 dollars and get a free "mixtape" I see it more than not actually

actually making it a mixtape is a way to make the label to release it as a marketing tool and they are not gonna put alot of money behind it......Koch also decided they will own the master since they are taking all the risks...but if Al and P did all the sample clearance work themselves they prolly saved a grip of money........the labels don't care if you get paid or not do your own groundwork and you'd be better off everytime.....

They can't send it through regular distribution channels, can't promote it using label resources, no royalties, no publishing monies, no soundscan, etc...

WHAT
It's a major label release. It charted, it gets air-play and everything. Koch is willing to take the risk if they get sued. But chances are, the people owning the rights to the music being sampled are not checking for "Return of the Mack".

If you're selling it and earning $$$ from it, then you can be sued.. But if you're giving it away for 100% free, then you wont be sued for it.

however, if you legally own the business, you will earn a tax return for all the money spent on the free promotion