How Sampling Made Legacy Artists Richer Than Ever

Sampling has long been a cornerstone of modern music, but in recent years it’s also become one of the most lucrative revenue streams for legacy artists, even those who haven’t released new material in decades. From rock stars of the ’70s to pop icons of the ’80s, musicians whose work was once confined to vinyl shelves are now earning royalties from today’s biggest hip-hop, pop and dance hits.

In this article, we’ll break down how sampling works as a business model, explore why legacy artists are earning more than ever, and look at real-world examples like Sting, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan to see how old music is generating new fortunes.

What Is Sampling, and Why Is It So Profitable?

Sampling involves taking a portion of an existing song (often a melody, vocal hook, drum pattern or instrumental) and reusing it in a new composition. While it’s a creative process for producers, it’s a commercial goldmine for the original rights holders.

Every time a sample is used commercially, it typically requires two separate clearances:

• The master recording (usually owned by the original artist’s record label)

• The publishing rights (usually owned by the songwriter or publisher)

In return for granting permission, rights holders can:

• Charge upfront licensing fees

• Negotiate publishing royalties or songwriting credit

• Retain ownership of the new work’s earnings, often indefinitely

For legacy artists who already control their catalogues (or who’ve sold them to publishing companies), this system creates a powerful stream of passive income.

Sting: Earning £1,500 a Day from Juice WRLD’s Sample

One of the most famous modern examples is ‘Lucid Dreams’ by Juice WRLD, which heavily samples ‘Shape of My Heart’ by Sting. Despite Juice WRLD writing the lyrics and producing a brand-new composition, Sting’s contribution via the sampled guitar riff was deemed so significant that his team negotiated 100% of the publishing royalties!

As of recent reports, Sting is estimated to be earning $2,000 (£1,500) per day from this individual sample. It’s a stark reminder that even a few bars from a legacy track can generate millions in modern streaming revenue, with zero new creative work required on the part of the original artist.

During an interview with Billboard, Sting quipped that the royalties he earns from Juice WRLD’s ‘Lucid Dreams’ “will put my grandkids through college,” calling the track “a beautiful interpretation” of his original song ‘Shape of My Heart’.

The Verve: Losing It All to a Rolling Stones Sample

The reverse side of the coin can be seen in Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve. The track sampled a symphonic version of The Last Time by The Rolling Stones, originally arranged by Andrew Oldham. Although The Verve sought clearance, they were found to have used more of the sample than had been licensed.

As a result, 100% of the song’s royalties and writing credits were assigned to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Richard Ashcroft, frontman of The Verve, didn’t receive any royalties for one of the biggest British singles of the ’90s until 2019, when Jagger and Richards returned the rights to him.

Meanwhile, the Stones’ estate and publisher earned handsomely from a song they didn’t actually write or record, simply because of a sample.

Bob Dylan, Neil Young and the Catalogue Sales Boom

Some legacy artists have taken a more strategic approach by selling their catalogues outright, knowing that the streaming and sampling economy will continue to generate value.

• Bob Dylan sold his entire publishing catalogue to Universal Music Publishing in 2020 for a reported $300–400 million.

• Neil Young sold 50% of his publishing to Hipgnosis for an estimated $150 million.

• Bruce Springsteen sold both his publishing and master recordings to Sony for $500 million.

These sales weren’t just about streaming; they were also about licensing opportunities, which include sync placements in films and adverts, but crucially, sampling in future music. Buyers of these catalogues now stand to earn every time an emerging artist samples one of their songs.

In essence, old songs have become investment assets, not just art.

Why Sampling Has Become So Common

Several modern trends have contributed to the rise in sampling:

• Short-form content platforms like TikTok thrive on nostalgia and recognisable hooks.

• Modern producers favour hybrid sounds, blending genres and eras.

• AI music tools often draw on old recordings to train models or mimic styles.

• Artists see sampling as a bridge to wider audiences, both generationally and geographically.

In this climate, owning the rights to a song released in 1975 can be more profitable than releasing a new track in 2025. Legacy catalogue holders are not just participating in today’s music economy, they’re quietly dominating it.

The Legacy Empire Grows

Sampling has changed the way we think about music ownership. It’s no longer just about who’s topping the charts now; it’s about who owns the building blocks of those hits. For legacy artists who once relied on album sales and touring, sampling has become a new frontier for wealth creation.

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