Beyonce, Jay-Z, Sony Music Entertainment and others are facing lawsuits alleging copyright infringement on Beyonce’s 2022 hit break my soul.
A group of former New Orleans musicians who once served as Dash Show Stop Pazexplain break my soul copyright infringement release swinga track they recorded and released independently in 2002.
break my soul include a sample thunderbolta 2014 track Great Freediais a well-known artist of bounce music, a branch of dance music born in New Orleans.
In a complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, four members of Da Showstoppaz claimed Big Freedia’s thunderbolt Replicating the lyrical hook of their 2002 track, which also appeared on break my soul – and claims that both songs therefore infringe Da Showstoppaz’s copyright.
“Da Showstoppaz’s contribution to the New Orleans bounce music scene and use of actual lyrics, melodies and musical arrangements release swing Deliberately filmed on tape by Big Freedia thunderboltsubsequently heavily sampled by Mrs. Carter [Beyonce] in master recording break my soul,” states the complaint, which can be read in full here.
The crux of the case is the lyrics “release a wiggle” and/or “release ya wiggle,” which the complaint alleges appeared on Big Freedia’s website thunderbolt Moreover, through sampling, break my soul.
“Before writing and recording Da Showstoppaz” release swing The phrases “release a swing” and “release you a swing” were never recorded or published in any other song, according to the complaint.
break my soulReleased in June 2022, it is the first single from Beyonce’s seventh studio album, regeneration. The song reached number one in the United States billboard hot 100making it the first song since Beyonce to achieve this milestone Single lady (wearing a ring) In 2008, the song’s various videos were viewed approximately 72 million times on YouTube and nearly 440 million times on Spotify.
The four members of Da Showstoppaz – Tessa Avi, Ceva Bourgeois, Henry Bragg and Brian Clark – is seeking sales damages and royalties break my soul and regenerationas well as damages and compensation resulting from the use of the song in Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour video Renaissance: The Films of Beyoncé.
It is worth noting that the indictment states that Da Showstoppaz did not obtain the recording and publishing copyright for the following content: release swing Until 2023, one year after launch break my soul Nine years after the release of Big Freedia thunderbolt.
The plaintiffs claimed that in 2002 they Black Room Entertainmenta new brand, founder Norris Revardalso known as prairieand “no documents or contracts were signed or exchanged.”
They say the song was a hit in New Orleans nightclubs, and the mixtapes on which it appeared “were blasted out of car trunks by block party DJs and nightclubs, or distributed to music venues that were popping up during that time. “
The complaint alleges that Bourgeois posted release swing Published on YouTube in March 2014, three months before release thunderbolt. However, the complaint alleges there is a more direct connection between the two. release swing and Big Freedia tracks.
“Big Freedia once worked with Mr. Revard and Peacock Grass [a producer on the 2002 mixtape] Through BlackHouse Enterprises and music labels, they produced several songs,” the complaint states.
“Given Big Freedia’s origins in New Orleans, its ties to its bounce scene, and Big Freedia’s ties to BlackHouse, any reasonable person could deduce that Big Freedia has access to Da Showstoppaz.” release swing”.
“The coined term and phrase “release a/yo wiggle” has now become synonymous with Big Freedia, thus earning Big Freedia its reputation. However, Big Freedia did not create or write the phrase, and Big Freedia never translated Da Showstoppaz considered as source.
Da Showstoppaz launches legal action against Beyoncé and others.
Four plaintiffs say they were unaware of Big Freedia’s actions thunderbolt Because by 2014, they were “out of touch” with the music industry and lost touch with the city’s bounce music scene when Hurricane Katrina forced them to move out of the New Orleans area in 2005.
They were not aware of the allegation until 2022, when they first heard of the alleged infringement. break my soul A member of Da Showstoppaz, “Shocked… posted on the popular social media account “theshaderoom” @bigfreedia and @beyonce notifying them of the unauthorized use release swing lyrics.
“The coined term and phrase “release a/yo wiggle” has now become synonymous with Big Freedia, thus earning Big Freedia its reputation. However, Big Freedia did not create or write the phrase, and Big Freedia never considered Da Showstoppaz as the source,” the complaint states.
“To date, the defendants have not entered into a licensing agreement with the plaintiffs.”
The lawsuit names as defendants Beyonce Knowles Carter; Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, is credited as a co-writer and co-producer break my soul; Sony Music Entertainment,parent company columbia recordswhich releases break my souland Beyoncé’s label parkwood entertainment inc.,produced regeneration and Renaissance: The Films of Beyoncé.
Two other co-producers and co-writers break my soul – Christopher Allen Stewartalso known as crafty stewartand Nash Trius Yandelalso known as dream – is also named.
The lawsuit also targets Big Freedia and Adam Piggottalso known as Blake Milderas co-writer and producer thunderboltand publishing companies related to the field, including kobalt music publishing house and Music Genius Records Ltd..
The publisher behind break my soul – Warner Timur Publishing Company, WC music company, spiritual music publishing house and Auckland13 Music – Also named as is Zoom companyfilm distributor Renaissance: The Films of Beyoncé.
Beyoncé has previously faced lawsuits over her use of New Orleans bounce music.
In 2017, she was sued for using a spoken word voice as a bounce rapper messy mia in her videos formation and lemonade. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2018.
In 2020, she and her husband Jay-Z black effecta track from their 2018 joint album everything is love. In this case, the Jamaican choreographer Lenora Antoinette Stings Claims she didn’t receive proper credit for the use of her voice on the show black effect. Later that year, Styles dropped the lawsuit.global music business
