As long as the sample is recognisably the original piece, you’re technically in violation. Samples of single-digit notes count are supposed to be permitted.
So yes, legally speaking you’re supposed to pay royalties for playing 20 seconds of a song, or even 10, or 5. The only time at which you don’t have to is when there is no way for the rightsholder to confidently state that you’re using the piece they holds rights to.
> As long as the sample is recognisably the original piece, you’re technically in violation. Samples of single-digit notes count are supposed to be permitted.
Bob James successfully sued rappers using a single note sampled from his original songs.
So yes, legally speaking you’re supposed to pay royalties for playing 20 seconds of a song, or even 10, or 5. The only time at which you don’t have to is when there is no way for the rightsholder to confidently state that you’re using the piece they holds rights to.