An interpolation refers to re-recording and incorporating a portion of a melody (or other elements) from an existing musical work into a new recording. Unlike sampling, which directly uses the actual audio from a pre-existing sound recording, interpolation involves creating new audio that recreates or references part of the original composition.
Re-recording an entire song (without changes) would generally be considered a cover recording, not an interpolation.
How Interpolation Differs From Sampling
- Sampling uses part of the actual sound recording of an existing track.
- Interpolation uses only the underlying musical composition, which is re-recorded by the new artist.
Licensing Requirements
Because interpolation does not involve the original sound recording, no license is required from the owner of the sound recording. However, a license is still required from the copyright owner(s) of the musical work (often the publisher or songwriter). You can secure a cover license for the musical work through your Too Lost account here.