Legal

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Ed Sheeran Gives TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’ Writers Credit on ‘Shape of You’

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran in his “Shape of You” video. (photo source: Instagram)

The writing credits on ASCAP’s website for Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You” now include the writers of TLC‘s 1999 hit, “No Scrubs,” BBC News has pointed out.

The credits for “Shape of You” originally included Sheeran, producer Steve Mac, and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid. However, the credits now include the writers of “No Scrubs”: Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Harris (T.I.’s wife), and producer Kevin Briggs.

Sheeran might have credited the writers to avoid another trial, though that hasn’t been confirmed. The English singer-songwriter is currently being sued by the family of the co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit, “Let’s Get It On.” They claim Sheeran’s 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud” infringes on it. He’s also being sued by the writers of Matt Cardle’s 2011 song, “Amazing,” which they allege shares similarities with Sheeran’s 2015 single, “Photograph.”

Compare “Shape of You” and “No Scrubs” below.

Related: Watch Ed Sheeran Perform ‘Shape of You’ on BBC Radio 1

| Music Industry
Ed Sheeran, Legal, TLC,
Monday, December 12, 2016

DJ Mixes Are Now Legal on SoundCloud, Says Founder

SoundCloud
Image source: Instagram

SoundCloud founder Eric Wahlforss has said in an interview that DJ mixes are now legal and “problem-free” on the service.

Wahlforss told Germany’s Groove magazine:

“During the negotiations for SoundCloud Go, we achieved agreement with collecting societies like GEMA in Germany, making these problems a thing of the past -– even for users who do not subscribe. This means that DJ mixes are now legal and problem-free on SoundCloud. So this is a very positive news for DJs.”

SoundCloud was once the go-to platform to host DJ mixes, but many DJs have stopped uploading their mixes in recent years because of increased takedowns for copyright infringement. Some have even had their accounts deleted for repeat violations.

As a result, many DJs have been uploading their mixes to less popular services like Mixcloud and Mixcrate. However, those platforms have been subject to increased takedowns over the last year, with Mixcrate closing its doors in October.

While Wahlforss’ comments are encouraging to DJs and fans, it is unclear at this point if all mixes are indeed safe on SoundCloud.

Related: DJs Should Stop Playing SoundCloud and YouTube Rips

| Music Industry, Music Tech
Legal, SoundCloud,
Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Ed Sheeran Sued For Allegedly Copying Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is reportedly being sued over claims he copied Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On” for his smash hit, “Thinking Out Loud.”

TMZ reports that the family of the co-writer of Gaye’s song, Ed Townsend, is taking legal action against Sheeran. The family alleges that Sheeran ripped off the melody, harmony, and rhythm of “Let’s Get It On” for his own track.

“Thinking Out Loud” won Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at this year’s Grammy awards and went multi-platinum around the world. The track is also Sheeran’s highest-charting solo single to date, having peaked at number two on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Both Gaye died in 1984 and Townsend passed away in 2003.

Compare the two tracks below and let us know what you think in the comment section.

Related: Ed Sheeran Covers Fetty Wap’s ‘Trap Queen’

| Music Industry, Videos
Ed Sheeran, Legal, Marvin Gaye,
Wednesday, June 29, 2016

New York DJ Sues Walgreens for Defective Earplugs

Earplugs

TMZ has reported that a New York DJ is suing drug store chain Walgreens for selling him defective earplugs, which allegedly damaged his ears.

Joseph Alpern, aka J Gabriel, claims he used the earplugs during a gig in 2013 and experienced “an immediate sharp pain” and “a ringing sound” after he removed them.

Alpern went to a specialist who told him he has permanent nerve damage. The doctor said the plugs were sealed too tightly and damaged his eardrums when he pulled them out.

Alpern says he now suffers from chronic headaches and fatigue and can’t listen to music at regular volumes.

He is seeking $640,000 in damages.

Check out Mojaxx’s budget earplug recommendations below.

Related: Budget Earplugs for DJs

| DJ Culture
Legal,
Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Weeknd Gets Sued Over ‘The Hills’

The Weeknd
 
It’s been a week of ups and downs for The Weeknd. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the R&B singer was slapped with a lawsuit on Wednesday over his hit single, “The Hills.” The suit came just two days after the Toronto native received seven Grammy nominations.
 
Cutting Edge Music Limited, a film financier based in the UK, alleges that “The Hills” illegally samples Tom Raybould’s score for the 2013 sci-fi film, The Machine.
 
The defendants named in the case include The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), producers Emmanuel “Million Dollar Mano” Nickerson and Carlo “Illangelo” Montagnese, co-writer Ahmad “Belly” Balshe, and music companies Universal, Warner Chappell, and Sony/ATV.
 
According to the complaint (read in full here), “On or about March 9, 2015, Defendant MANO sent Raybould a Twitter direct message stating ‘I sampled your music might make it 2 the weeknd next album. Huge fan of what u did 4 the machine movie!'”
 
“The Hills” was released in May as the second single from The Weeknd’s album, Beauty Behind the Madness. It has topped multiple charts and sold over two million units.
 
Compare the two songs below.
 

 

 
Related: Watch The Weeknd’s ‘In the Night’ Video

| Music Industry, Videos
Illangelo, Legal, Million Dollar Mano, Music Production, The Weeknd,
Saturday, October 24, 2015

Watch Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s ‘Blurred Lines’ Testimonies

Pharrell and Robin Thicke
 
Video has surfaced of Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s depositions in their lawsuit with the Marvin Gaye estate.
 
The exclusive footage, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, comes months after a judge ruled that Thicke and Pharrell ripped off Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.” The two artists were ordered to pay $5.4 million to Gaye’s estate, which they are now appealing.
 
Watch Thicke and Pharrell’s candid responses below.
 


 
Related: Jury Rules Against Robin Thicke & Pharrell in ‘Blurred Lines’ Trial

| Music Industry, Videos
Legal, Marvin Gaye, Music Production, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke,

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