Five ways Jay-Z sampling your track changes your life

After struggling for 15 years to make a living as a musician, Kanan opted for the security of a nine-to-five job as a software consultant. But when Jay-Z’s 4:44 album was released, Kanan learned that a song he’d written had been sampled in the title track.

The song, which shares its name with the album, is an apology from Jay-Z to his wife Beyoncé for cheating on her. Kanan was credited as a songwriter alongside Jay-Z and his producer.

His life was changed in ways he wasn’t expecting. Here are five things you should be prepared for when a famous artist samples your song.

Although Kanan knew that his song would be sampled, he was unaware how it would be used or in what track. He only discovered it the first time he played the track. It had been looped and skipped, but it was still Kanan’s song. Jay-Z’s producer used it to convince Jay-Z to write the apology track, which became the title track on the album. Kanan had written the song three years earlier, so it goes to show you never know when your break will come!

2. A songwriter credit will net you more than a performer credit.

Kanan’s song was performed by Hannah Williams and the Affirmations, who had to split the performance royalties between all of them. Their payment is also released at different times as performers receive a different type of royalties.

Manage your money expectations.

You should be aware that the different roles in producing the music will result in different incomes, with songwriters earning more than the performers.

3. And what you get is hard to predict.

Nowadays, with revenue generated from a complicated mix of streaming, sales, and radio plays, it's hard to know what you'll receive. Even if the song your sample is used in turns out to be a global hit, be prepared to manage your expectations. While it’s a life-changing moment, the first pay packet you earn on its own might not be.

Kanan’s first royalty payment was not a million-dollar pay cheque. It only represented UK radio plays. The payment is also split between a thousand and forty five tiny payments, the largest of which was £11.75 for the track being played in its entirety. It takes a long time for the full extent of the financial windfall to become clear, so you might have to be patient.

4. The exposure can be incredibly useful if you make the most of it.

Hannah Williams and the Affirmations went on a European tour off the back of being sampled by Jay-Z as well as finding renewed interested from managers and the media. However, as the band was warned, there is a limited time to take advantage of the publicity generated. When the time comes, making the most of it will start some momentum about you and your creation. The ongoing success will be more rewarding than any short-term financial gain.

The Jay-Z track which sampled Kanan’s song was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards. This was the biggest moment from the whole experience for him – to be recognized as a songwriter on such a high level.

You never know where your music will take you, but overwhelmingly the take-away is that getting discovered in this way is more likely to be your big break than helping you break the bank.

To hear Kanan’s story in full, listen to The Untold.