Music: Innovative Sampling

Publishing rights is an industrious area for lawyers these days, but not, it seems a productive one for the artists themselves. The American art-collagist Beck has expressed no concern over the illegal Beck samples used in Illegal Arts' Deconstructing Beck. Beck's music publisher and record label, however, have resorted to e-mailing a "cease and desist" order to the elusive label owners.

Garbage have circumvented lawyers by getting personal permission to refer to Beach Boys and Pretenders songs in their new album. Brian Wilson cleared it and lead Pretender Chrissie Hynde was more than supportive. She sent a fax saying, "I, Chrissie Hynde, hereby allow the band Garbage to sample my songs, my voice, and indeed my very ass. Love, Chrissie Hynde."