Interview with Paul Sampson CEO of LICKDEPISODE OVERVIEW:I had a revealing conversation with Paul Sampson, CEO of LICKD, as we uncover how this platform is changing music licensing for creators. We trace LICKD’s origin story, get clear on what Fair Use really entails, and hear firsthand about the music industry's stance on licensing. Paul also explains YouTube's ContentID and the copyright claim process, providing a roadmap for creators who want to use music legally and strategically in their videos. Whether you’re a content creator, musician, or just curious about the digital music world, this episode breaks down how creators can amplify their content with music while staying on the right side of copyright law.Highlights and Timestamps:01:13 - 02:53: Lickd’s purpose: mainstream music for creators, free from copyright claims.03:25 - 04:43: Music licensing obstacles and Content ID’s “guilty until proven innocent” approach.07:32 - 09:00: Paul explains how the “Vouch” technology works to ensure licensed content stays claim-free.11:24 - 12:30: Discussing Lickd’s scale compared to Epidemic Sound and YouTube Audio Library.16:15 - 17:09: The importance of using popular songs for storytelling and audience engagement.18:00 - 19:45: Data-driven results: Lickd’s music increases creator engagement by 22%.21:35 - 22:12: YouTube Creator Music vs. Lickd’s pay-upfront model.27:32 - 29:04: Why YouTube doesn’t simply acquire Lickd.31:05 - 32:48: How the music industry’s resistance to democratization conflicts with creators’ needs.44:35 - 47:10: Insight into AI-generated music, ethics, and the music industry’s response to AI’s capabilities.Brief Guest Bio:Paul Sampson is the CEO and founder of LICKD, a platform transforming the way content creators legally access popular music for their videos. With years of experience in the music and digital industries, Paul leads LICKD in offering a simple solution to licensing mainstream tracks, helping creators elevate their content while protecting artists' rights. His innovative approach has made LICKD a game-changer in the creator economy and digital music space. Resources Mentioned:Awesome Creator AcademyLICKD for Music LicensingKit.comSponsors of the Podcast:1of10 - https://geni.us/get1of10com1of10 is the BEST tool for YouTube Strategy and helping you find outlier videos that will get more views. Find inspiration for your Topics, Titles and Thumbnails and stop guessing if and idea will get views and start knowing. Use Discount Code ROBERTO at checkout for 50% OFF.OpusClip -https://geni.us/getopusclipRepurposing your content to every platform possible, is one of the fastest ways to grow your reach, reputation and revenue. OpusClip uses AI tools for nearly perfect repurposing for short form vertical videos, wide screen clips and can help you with scheduling your content across your platforms, making it automated and easy.Kajabi -https://kajabi.com/robertoblakeThe perfect all-in-one solution for your online business is Kajabi, offering Courses, Cohorts, Coaching and Community all with no-code tools, unlimited video hosting and built-in email marketing! Visit Awesome Creator Academy and consider joining the Academy Pro Group if you want to become a full-time content creator and increase your Reach, Reputation and Revenue. We have a community of 100 Members just like you who want to learn more and earn more.We meet twice each week for Office Hours, we offer a library of over 100 Hours of Exclusive Training in all things content creation for our Pro Group Members, and have our Accountability Club where you can check in with your peers and stay on track with your projects.You can also post any and all questions and get feedback on your work daily through the private group where you peers can offer critique and constructive criticism.Check out https://www.awesomecreatoracademy.com/group for more details. If you're looking to just get started and don't want to make a huge investment, but you know you need direction and guidance, check out my book Create Something Awesome: How Creators are Profiting from their Passion in the Creator Economy.