http://colonybmx.com.au

The DIG Do’s and Don’ts of Song Jacking

“Pretty sure that’s a Song Jack Dude?”

26 Oct 2016

Soungjackingtitle2

By Joey Spinoza

“Pretty sure that’s a Song Jack Dude?” is a phrase I hate with absolute abhorrence. It grinds my gears because although I 100% adhere to the rules of song jacking I am also genuinely observant of the ambiguity of this rule. I want to discuss this in its true form, I want to shake the filthy water from between the sheets and lay it all out to dry so people can make an appropriate and correct judgment. Lets start at the beginning.

Before the Internet, or even in the early days of the Internet you could song jack and it would mean something - because the availability of content was so minimal that you could track the origin of the jacked content and your ruling would be valid. Basically I am saying that back then you should have known better, you should have noticed before you released. Now, in 2016 we face a new problem - we have to understand that the rules have changed and in fact there is now a new set of rules due to a colossus world of BMX content available deeming a ‘song jack’ either legit or non-legit.  

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Song Jack Dude

Example:

So imagine you work for a brand, a legit BMX brand that makes parts, bikes, apparel and has been in the game long enough to remember when Edwin messed with X-Up landers (I’m trying to set a scene alright). This brand creates a video for a rider, the song you use is a song you chose in good faith and you did an average amount of research but most of it is based on the fact that you watch and observe BMX videos every day due to the nature of your job. 16 minutes after releasing the video on Youtube and every media channel has scooped it up you notice a comment that reads “sOng jACK ToDd chambeRs eDit” and immediately your eyes roll and you slump into the back of your chair. A quick Google for Todd Chambers brings up a video filmed with a Go Pro in Norwich, England and the video had 1,220 views and was once embedded by a Russian BMX blog. THAT IS NOT A SONG JACK! If you seem to understand what I am saying, and if you agree with this new wave of difficulties then the following Do’s and Don’t’s might help.

1. The song was used in a parts promo and the edit featured a lot of panning shots of frames and pedals, can I still use it?

Yes, use it but use it for a fucking epic banger section, if it means so much to you, if it's an amazing song then you shouldn’t feel like a child who got picked last in football, you should feel like an Amazon warrior who just hunted a snake with a piece of string. Be bold and prove that the song you chose is better off with bangers not wangers.

2. The song was used like 20 years ago in a section on a VHS. What even is VHS?

No, go search for a new song and stop being a sneaky git. If you know the song is out there, it's been used even if it was used way before you developed a pubic hair then just leave it where it is. Search for something new.

3. It was used on the end credits of a DVD?

Hard one this, no one watches end credits because they have already got up and gone to piss, so the chances are no one will ever know. Saying that though you are still being a sneaky git, you could probably find another song and keep thing legit. My advice is to move along, nothing to see here.

4. It was background music for an interview.

Use it. Not even going to discuss this one. Just use it.

5. An Energy Drink Co used this song and they probably paid for it? Can I use it?

If an energy drink company used it used it then there's a chance that it might just be really bad; made by some hippy guy in Garage band in Greece on a ‘year out’ after Uni. It was possibly even downloaded by googling ‘Royalty Free Hip Hop Guitar Music?’ So you should probably have a little walk to the bottom of your street, find an empty space and ask yourself what the fuck you are doing with your life

6. I want to use ‘Diary of a Mad Man’ is that cool, I mean – its been ages right?

Please use it. Please see what happens. Please. 

Previous

Setups: Chase Hawk

That boost button has gotta be hidden somewhere...

Next

The Aaron Ross Podcast

DIG X SNAKEBITE

Related Content

SHAD JOHNSON GOODS PORTLAND 8REASONS BMX RD

8 Reasons Why You Should Never Open a BMX Shop... And 8 Reasons Why You Probably Should.

And no, we're not seriously trying to discourage anyone from opening up a shop...

14 Jul 2015
Mulville   Bmx 5 Reasons  Tbog   Rd

5 Reasons Why Sponsorship Loyalty Kicks Ass

Profile's Mark Mulville breaks it down...

29 Dec 2015
matt coplon graphic 1

9 Pros and Cons Of Being One Of The Busiest Men In BMX

Matt Coplon on the ups and downs of the 24/7 hustle...

1 Jun 2015
10 rules of the road Malouf Wescott McGrath Puerto rico

10 Rules of the Road - How to be a good BMX House guest

BMX Travellers Respecting The Local Connection in Puerto Rico

9 Mar 2015
DIg vegan

15 ways to help get your photos published by DIG

Don't be a double dipper. No editor wants to get sent scraps...

9 Apr 2015
https://www.vans.eu/bmx.html

Latest Content

V76 KAYB Sc M Ihqdefault
Play Button

SAM GRACE - STILL HAVING FUN

FULL THROTTLE BMX!

8 Oct 2025
O87c ja sn Ihqdefault
Play Button

ALEX KENNEDY - PROJECT Xtras

"That pop!"

8 Oct 2025
P Ugc5d Ew U3 Ehqdefault
Play Button

MOTO-TOUR ISSUE 02

UNDER 13 TAIWAN TOUR

8 Oct 2025
WSXC1 AE Nbkhqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WE OUTSIDE BABY

Renato Rancso, Boyd Hilder, and Raph Jeroma-Williams

8 Oct 2025
0ls M Aewc Qghqdefault
Play Button

Junior Cunha - Brazilian Frequency

His third Subrosa / Shadow video

8 Oct 2025
O YAL9 Zi LA0 Yhqdefault
Play Button

BOYD HILDER - JETLAG UNPLUGGED

Unseen Hilder

6 Oct 2025
O M9z YI0js W Mhqdefault
Play Button
0n0nssvm A Uohqdefault
Play Button

MIKI FLECK 'ELECTRIC ZUIN'

240v on those spots

3 Oct 2025
B7 Cl Ny w Dbchqdefault
Play Button

LISMORE ROAD TRIPPIN'

NOTHING BEATS A ROAD TRIP!

3 Oct 2025
K7lg 7k5yl4hqdefault
Play Button

Vans x Odyssey Anniversary Collection 2025

"In honor of their 40-Year Anniversary, Odyssey have partnered with Vans on a new limited-edition collection"

2 Oct 2025
13 J4 Ao Oc Akghqdefault
Play Button
Overtime Thumbnail Colour v2 copy
Play Button

OVERTIME

Ft. Chad Ferch, Kent Fuller, Matt Perrin & More

1 Oct 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

VANS ODYSSEY 2025 COLLECTION FF RAMP 003

"The inspiration was right in front of our eyes" The story behind the Vans X Odyssey 40 Year Collab

An interview with Nuno Oliveira (Odyssey) and Justin Villano (Vans)

25 Sep 2025
07 2025 Huffy Sledgehammer Launch Project 132

Product Drop: HUFFY Sledgehammer frame

Huffy returns to BMX...

22 Sep 2025
Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025
Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - "DOCUMENTING OVER 30 YEARS of D.I.Y. BMX CULTURE" PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on our magazine history and the rise of the mid-school

1 Aug 2025
Thumbnail 2

Product Drop - ODYSSEY '85 Splatter kit

Nord, Walsh stems and Hazard lite rims

29 Jul 2025
Shirt swell k0150m back

Product Drop - KINK 2025 APPAREL

For Fall/Winter

23 Jul 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025
LOW Street station Saturday Jarvis 1 copy

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2025 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Another Year - New Locations - Even More Jams!

26 May 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

26 May 2025
Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall

BRUNO HOFFMANN INTERVIEW - 'FOREIGN'

"I think the scene is doing good..."

21 Apr 2025
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025