Copyright

Two gold speech bubbles on navy, one looping back on itself and one pointing outward, symbolizing parody aimed at a work versus satire aimed elsewhere

Parody vs. Satire: What Fair Use Actually Protects

Raymond / September 10, 2026

“It’s a parody, so it’s fair use” is one of the most misunderstood beliefs in creative work. The law treats parody and satire very differently — and getting the distinction wrong is what gets creators sued. Here’s the one question that decides which side of the line you’re on, and what it means for your next remix, meme, or spoof.

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ASCAP, BMI, and Performance Royalties: A Musician’s Plain-English Guide

Raymond / August 31, 2026

Every time your song plays on the radio, a streaming service, or a coffee-shop speaker, it earns a performance royalty. Here is how ASCAP, BMI, and the other PROs collect that money, and how a songwriter actually gets paid.

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Sampling and Remix Rights: Clearing a Track Without Getting Sued

Raymond / August 30, 2026

Grabbing two seconds of someone else’s record can end in a lawsuit or a pulled release. Here is how sample clearance actually works, and how to remix or sample a track the legal way.