stayc main image

Kendrick Lamar - A Modern Musical Genius

July 28, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern music, Kendrick Lamar stands out as a true musical genius. With a unique blend of deep and meaningful lyrics, masterful storytelling...

Read more
stayc main image

Justin Bieber Sells His Share of Song Rights for $200 million

July 28, 2023

The Canadian pop star sells his share of rights to his music to Hipnosis Songs Capital for just over $200 million. He has sold some of his biggest hit songs, such as Baby and Sorry...

Read more
stayc main image

Re-recording Taylor Swift's “Speak Now”

July 28, 2023

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has been taking the music world with her re-recorded albums. Among these highly anticipated re-releases is "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)"...

Read more
stayc main image

Powfu: The Rising Star of Lo-fi Hip-hop

July 25, 2023

There are always new artists emerging in the hip-hop scene that have unique and captivating sounds. Powfu, born Isaiah Faber, grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and has been gathering a large fanbase...

Read more
stayc main image

How Yoko Kanno Brilliantly Made the Soundtrack of Netflix's Cowboy Bebop

July 21, 2023

When it comes to anime soundtracks, there are plenty of contenders, but one stands tall above the rest – Cowboy Bebop. Released in 1998, this genre-defying space western captivated audiences...

Read more
stayc main image

NewJeans Drop 2nd EP ‘Get Up’

July 23, 2023

NewJeans is a girl-group composed of 5 members, Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein. Newjeans debuted in 2022 with their EP 'NewJeans,' bringing a totally new attitude to the K-pop industry...

Read more
stayc main image

Billie Eilish joins ‘Barbie’ hype with new release ‘What was I made for?’

July 21, 2023

The upcoming 'Barbie' film, scheduled for release on July 21st, has captured the hearts of fans who have long admired the animated Barbie films. Greta Girwig's live-action remake of the famous film...

Read more
stayc main image

Songwriting BTS’ Jungkook New Single “SEVEN” ft. Latto

July 21, 2023

BTS, the global sensation, continues to astound the music industry with their incredible music and meaningful lyrics. Among the members, Jungkook, also referred to as the "Golden Maknae," is.....

Read more
stayc main image

How Beyoncé Crafts Her Music

July 19, 2023

Music industry icon Beyoncé is powerful and captivating. She is known not only for her dramatic performances, but also for her outstanding songwriting skills. We will delve deeper into the creative...

Read more
stayc main image

Gunna’s Comeback to the Music Industry Despite Controversy

July 19, 2023

Gunna, a mainstream rapper, just released a new album containing a #1 “Billboard Hot 100” hit song called “fukumean” despite the current controversy around his name. Gunna was arrested back in May....

Read more
stayc main image

Tik Tok is Now a Music Streaming Service

July 19, 2023

Everyone knows Tik Tok as the app that blew up during COVID as a way for people to create and share short videos for others to enjoy. The video’s posted range from funny skits, dances, lip sync.....

Read more
stayc main image

The Shadow of Sour Writing “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo

July 19, 2023

The mastermind behind the overwhelmingly successful album, Sour, the 20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo comes back into the spotlight with a new heart wrenching single, ‘Vampire’ and the...

Read more

The Fine Line Between Inspiration and Infringement: Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Lawsuit

stayc main image

In the intricate world of music creation, inspiration often blurs the lines between originality and infringement. The recent lawsuit against Beyoncé over her hit song "Break My Soul" serves as a poignant reminder of these complexities. The lawsuit, filed by members of the bounce music group Da Showstoppaz, accuses Beyoncé of illegally using elements from their 2002 track “Release a Wiggle” through a sample in Big Freedia’s "Explode," which was then featured in "Break My Soul."

Beyoncé’s chart-topping single prominently samples "Explode" by Big Freedia, a prominent figure in the New Orleans bounce music scene. Bounce music, characterized by its energetic tempo and repetitive rhythms, has been steadily gaining mainstream recognition, thanks in part to artists like Big Freedia. However, Da Showstoppaz allege that "Explode" borrows significant portions from their earlier work "Release a Wiggle," specifically the repeated chorus phrase "release your wiggle."

Da Showstoppaz members Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs, and Brian Clark claim that the lyrics and musical composition in "Explode" are substantially similar to those in "Release a Wiggle." They are calling for recognition and financial compensation, seeking to be credited for their contributions and to receive royalties from both "Explode" and "Break My Soul." The lawsuit names Beyoncé, Big Freedia, Jay-Z, and Sony Music as defendants, highlighting the far-reaching implications of such claims in the music industry.

The case underscores the importance of navigating the fine line between inspiration and copyright infringement. While drawing from existing music can lead to innovative and popular new tracks, it also risks crossing into legal territory. For music creators, producers, and anyone involved in the industry, understanding the boundaries of copyright law is crucial. Failure to do so can result in costly legal battles, damaged reputations, and financial losses. Ensuring originality and properly crediting sources are essential practices to safeguard against these dangers and to foster a creative environment that respects the intellectual property of all artists.

The Fine Line Between Inspiration and Infringement: Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Lawsuitthe-fine-line-between-inspiration-and-infringement-beyonces-break-my-soul-lawsuitHla Eid May 23, 2024In the intricate world of music creation, inspiration often blurs the lines between originality and infringement. The recent lawsuit against Beyoncé over her hit song "Break My Soul"...