April 8, 2023
In October 2019, member of the K-pop group Monsta X, WONHO, faced allegations of drug usage, resulting in his departure from the group. Fans were disheartened by the news of him leaving and wondered..
Read moreApril 1, 2023
Songwriters, composers, and publishers have long been underpaid when it comes to the live concert industry. However, a successful court case may be the first step to changing that.....
Read moreMarch 28, 2023
Society has always placed a high value on music. As technology starts to become more part of our lives, social media and music platforms have become more and more prominent in the music business....
Read moreMarch 28, 2023
The Latin GRAMMY Awards are changing it up this year for songwriters! On March 21, 2023, The Latin Recording Academy released a press release announcing various additions and changes to the awards...
Read moreMarch 22, 2023
Even if you haven't heard of NewJeans yet, there's a good chance you'll soon be humming along to their infectious tunes. The Korean pop group is quickly gaining international attention and breaking..
Read moreMarch 31, 2023
Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....
Read moreMarch 18, 2023
The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......
Read moreMarch 17, 2023
The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....
Read moreMarch 4, 2023
Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is
Read moreMarch 3, 2023
Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve
Read moreFebruary 25, 2023
People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and
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Toronto Rapper Drake is slapped with a $10 million copyright lawsuit. The lawsuit began after Drake used an unpermitted sample from a song released by the artist Obrafour made in 2003 named ‘Oye Rhene.’
According to the details of the lawsuit, Drake had emailed Obrafour to gain permission to sample the song while he was in the making of ‘Calling My Name.’ Obrafor’s lawsuit further indicates that after not receiving an email back, Drake went ahead and sampled the song anyways without obtaining consent. The initial email asking permission to test the piece was sent out on June 8th, 2022, with no response. A follow-up email was sent out, with no response to either email. The song was released a few days later, on June 17th, 2022, in Drake’s surprise album “Honestly, Nevermind.”
In the lawsuit, Obrafor is suing under the Copyright Act for copyright infringement. Within the lawsuit, he is seeking all remedies afforded to him. This will include preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, monetary and damages. It will not be limited to actual damages, profits that are (in)directly attributable to Defendants’ infringing conduct and statutory damages. Under the Copyright Act, there is a fine of $150,000.00 per infringement.