Kanye West & Donna Summer’s Estate Finalize Settlement Over Allegedly Unauthorized Sample

Back in February, Kanye West was sued by the late Donna Summer’s estate for allegedly sampling her single “I Feel Love” on Vultures 1 without permission. The suit came after the estate called Ye out earlier that month. They alleged that while he did ask for permission to sample the song, it was denied. They accused him of doing it anyway, prompting the legal battle.

“Summer’s estate … wanted no association with West’s controversial history and specifically rejected West’s proposed use,” her attorneys explained. “In the face of this rejection, defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission.” Last month, it was revealed that they were in the process of finalizing a settlement. Now, it appears that the case has been resolved.

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Kanye West & Donna Summer’s Estate Finalize Settlement Over Allegedly Unauthorized Sample
Kanye West attends Sean Combs 50th Birthday Bash presented by Ciroc Vodka on December 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs)

According to court documents obtained by Billboard, both parties have “entered into a settlement agreement that is a full and final settlement of all of the claims in the action.” Neither of them has revealed further details of the settlement at the time of writing. It remains unclear whether or not this means Ye’s track “Good (Don’t Die)” will be available to purchase or stream again anytime soon.

Hopefully, Ye learned his lesson and will be sure to secure the permission necessary to sample other artists in the future. After all, according to Ty Dolla Sign, Vultures 2 is “almost done and could be released any day now.” What do you think of Kanye West and Donna Summer’s estate finalizing their settlement? What about him allegedly sampling the late artist’s song without permission? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Kanye West & Donna Summer Estate Finalizing Settlement Over Unauthorized Sample

Kanye West’s VULTURES 1 caused controversy for a myriad of reasons, not least of which was a conflict with a music legend over allegedly unauthorized work. However, it seems like there’s a way out, although we still have to see whether this gets solid confirmation in the near future. Moreover, he and Donna Summer’s estate are reportedly finalizing a settlement over a copyright infringement lawsuit against Ye. The estate claims that he sampled the classic “I Feel Love” without their permission on the track “GOOD (DON’T DIE)” on his Ty Dolla $ign collab album. They filed the legal action on February 27, a little over two weeks after the LP dropped, and it alleged that Ye either re-recorded the song, used A.I. vocals, or isolated the original vocals. Either way, it would constitute copyright violation according to the suit.

“Kanye West asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song ‘I Feel Love,’ he was denied,” a representative for Summer’s estate stated. “He changed the words, had someone re-sing it or used A.I., but it’s ‘I Feel Love’… copyright infringement.” Both parties agreed to pursue an amicable resolution together, and according to alleged sources who reportedly spoke to AllHipHop, they had a global settlement by Monday (May 13). This followed negotiations in April and this month. However, one particular challenge was apparently finding Ty Dolla $ign in order to serve him with legal documents.

Read More: Best Donna Summer Samples In Hip Hop

Kanye West Attends Paris Fashion Week 2022

Kanye West Lawsuit Donna Summer Sample Settled Estate Hip Hop News
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 02: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY – For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Kanye West attends the Givenchy Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 02, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Regardless, all parties have reportedly agreed in principle, and expect to execute a final written settlement in the very near future. Still, there are no public details about Kanye West and Donna Summer’s estate’s agreement at press time, whether monetary reimbursement or other considerations. Apparently, the plan is for the estate to file a stipulation to dismiss the lawsuit once everyone’s signed onto the settlement. As such, this whole debacle, which was among the most contentious parts of the VULTURES series’ rollout -– and that’s saying something -– seems like it’ll wrap up soon.

Meanwhile, representatives for both Kanye West and the Donna Summer estate reportedly declined further comments on the matter. With more albums supposedly on the way from Ye and Ty, who knows what sample-based case could prop up next? They are notorious for taking big risks these days, which can sometimes result in some amazing moments. We’ll see if we actually get that sequel or if this lawsuit settlement is one of the final remnants of the VULTURES era.

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Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour

Kanye West George Floyd

Kanye West hoped to take his Vultures album with Ty Dolla $ign on the road. Unfortunately for him, Live Nation and AEG won’t assist.

According to Hits Daily Double, insiders state neither touring company will move forward with requests on a Ye tour that is being pitched by his agent Cara Lewis. The decision comes despite Ye moving over 10,000 tickets for his events, like the one in Chicago.

It is noted that Chicago companies Jam Productions and SPKRBX collaborated on the United Center booking days before the release.

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign are being sued by the Donna Summer estate for using the icon’s “I Feel Love” in the creation of “Good (Don’t Die).”

The suit is led by Summer’s husband, Bruce Sandano, stating the interpolation was not approved due to Ye’s “controversial history.”

Ye submitted a request for clearance, but it was denied on Feb. 3, 2024, in both written and phone communications. The song was submitted for clearance at Universal Music Enterprises as an alternative but was once again denied.

The estate is now seeking damages of $150,000 for each infringement.

Earlier this week, after Adidas announced a new stock drop of Yeezy sneakers at the end of the month, Kanye hit the net with a message stating he was sued.

“Not only are they putting out fake colorways that are not approved, they are suing me for $250 million,” Ye said. “And they also not paying me for these shoes they are putting out that has my name on it.

“They are using contract clauses and 50 years of business experience to rape an artist – one of y’all favorite artists – right in front of y’all in broad daylight.”

The post Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour first appeared on The Source.

The post Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour appeared first on The Source.

Donna Summer Net Worth: What Is The Queen Of Disco Worth?

Donna Summer, the undisputed Queen of Disco, left an indelible mark on the music world with her electrifying hits and powerful voice. As of 2024, Donna Summer’s net worth is estimated to be $75 million, according to Net Worth Post. Summer’s career was marked by groundbreaking achievements, including chart-topping singles, Grammy Awards, and a distinctive sound that defined an era. Her journey from a talented unknown to a global superstar exemplifies her exceptional talent and the universal appeal of her music.

Rise To Stardom: The Birth Of A Disco Icon

Donna Summer
Quincy Jones & Donna Summer at the Savoy Theater in New York City. January 1983 (Photo by Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty Images)

Donna Summer’s ascent to stardom began in the 1970s when her collaboration with producer Giorgio Moroder catapulted her into the spotlight. Their pioneering work, especially on the hit song Love to Love You Baby, also introduced a new sound that would define disco music. Summer’s ability to blend soulful vocals with electronic music was revolutionary, earning her a place at the forefront of the genre. Throughout the disco era, she dominated the charts with anthems like Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, and Last Dance. Each track further showcased her dynamic range and powerful presence. Summer’s influence extended beyond music, as she became a style icon and a symbol of the vibrant disco culture.

Summer will always be remembered as the Queen of Disco. Her artistic range allowed her to explore various musical styles throughout her career. After the peak of disco, she successfully transitioned into other genres. These included R&B, pop, and gospel, demonstrating her versatility as an artist. Albums like She Works Hard for the Money and All Systems Go featured a more diverse sound. It also reflected Summer’s growth as a songwriter and performer. Additionally, her ability to adapt to changing musical landscapes while staying true to her artistry is a hallmark of her enduring legacy.

Philanthropy & Personal Life

Donna Summer
Headshot of Donna Summer, US singer-songwriter, posing in a studio portrait. With her hands raised, open-palmed, either side of her head, wearing gold-sequinned cuffs and collar, also 1976. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)

Further, Donna Summer was also known for her philanthropic efforts and deep spirituality. Her commitment to various causes, including AIDS awareness and disaster relief, showed a compassionate side. It also endeared her to fans worldwide. Summer’s personal life, particularly her faith and family, significantly shaped her career and public persona. Moreover, her legacy is that of a musical icon and a woman who used her platform to make a difference in the world.

Donna Summer’s net worth of $75 million in 2024 encapsulates a career transcending musical boundaries and cultural trends. Her journey from the heart of the disco movement to a versatile artist who explored a range of genres showcases her exceptional talent and adaptability. Summer’s contributions to music and her lasting influence on artists across generations affirm her status as a timeless icon whose legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the globe.

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Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign Sued by Donna Summer Estate for Copyright Infringement

Kanye West George Floyd

Another day, another lawsuit for Kanye West. Ye and his Vultures partner, Ty Dolla $ign, are being sued by the Donna Summer estate for using the icon’s “I Feel Love” in the creation of “Good (Don’t Die).”

The suit is led by Summer’s husband, Bruce Sandano, stating the interpolation was not approved due to Ye’s “controversial history.”

Ye submitted a request for clearance, but it was denied on Feb. 3, 2024, in both written and phone communications. The song was submitted for clearance at Universal Music Enterprises as an alternative but was once again denied.

The estate is now seeking damages of $150,000 for each infringement.

Earlier this week, after Adidas announced a new stock drop of Yeezy sneakers at the end of the month, Kanye hit the net with a message stating he was sued.

“Not only are they putting out fake colorways that are not approved, they are suing me for $250 million,” Ye said. “And they also not paying me for these shoes they are putting out that has my name on it.

“They are using contract clauses and 50 years of business experience to rape an artist – one of y’all favorite artists – right in front of y’all in broad daylight.”

The post Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign Sued by Donna Summer Estate for Copyright Infringement first appeared on The Source.

The post Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign Sued by Donna Summer Estate for Copyright Infringement appeared first on The Source.

Donna Summer’s Estate Has Reportedly Sued Kanye West For Interpolating One Of Her Songs, Despite Denying Permission

kanye west
Getty Image

Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign‘s Vultures 1 collab album may be a hit among fans, but the album has not arrived without its controversies. Today (February 27), Billboard reports that Donna Summer’s estate has filed a lawsuit against West for interpolating Summer’s hit song “I Feel Love” on the Vultures 1 track “Good (Don’t Die).”

According to the lawsuit, West requested permission to sample the song, but was denied by the estate. West then rerecorded portions of “I Feel Love” to use on “Good (Don’t Die).”

“Summer’s estate … wanted no association with West’s controversial history and specifically rejected West’s proposed use,” attorneys for the estate wrote. “In the face of this rejection, defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission.”

The song has since been removed from streaming platforms, however, Summer’s estate is continuing to pursue legal action, as the song has already garnered many streams.

“This lawsuit is about more than Defendants’ mere failure to pay the appropriate licensing fee for using another’s musical property,” the estate’s lawyers wrote. “It is also about the rights of artists to decide how their works are used and presented to the public, and the need to prevent anyone from simply stealing creative works when they cannot secure the right to use them legally.”

Though the portions West used were re-recorded, Summer’s attorneys maintain that West copied the song, as the tunes sound too much alike,

“When listening to both songs, any average listener can immediately hear the distinctive similar melody and compositional elements present in both songs, which sound so identical that it appears Defendants may have gone so far as sampling the original master recording of Summer,” the attorneys wrote.

At the time of writing, neither West nor Ty Dolla Sign have directly commented on the matter.

Ty Dolla Sign is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kanye West Sued By Donna Summer’s Estate Over “I Feel Love” Sample On “Good (Don’t Die)”

It’s been a whirlwind of a ride for Kanye West, who finally unveiled his joint project with Ty Dolla $ign, Vultures 1, earlier this month. Already, the album proved to be monumental for Ye and Ty. However, Ye now faces a new lawsuit as a result of the project. The estate of Donna Summer has filed a lawsuit against Kanye over her single, “I Feel Love,” which he sampled on Vultures 1 single, “GOOD (DON’T DIE)” without proper authorization. According to the estate, he used a soundalike to interpolate one of her songs after initially being denied his request to sample “I Feel Love.” 

You’ve likely heard the song already, even though it was later removed from the album days after its release. became one of the highlights of the project, though the familiarity of “I Feel Love” is undoubtedly part of the appeal. However, Donna Summer’s team made it abundantly clear in their suit that they already denied Ye permission to use the song (apparently, he reached to clear the sample on Jan. 31) yet he attempted to find a loophole around it. Still, Summer’s estate explains that the interpolation won’t protect Ye from copyright infringement.

Read More: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign “Vultures 1” Review

Donna Summer’s Estate Won’t Stand For Kanye’s Antics

It really isn’t difficult to understand why the estate of the late singer, who still controls the copyright of the song, didn’t want to off on the sample. TMZ reports that this is presumably due to the string of controversy that surrounds Kanye, from his comments on George Floyd to his pro-Hitler tirades. At the end of the day, they decided that Ye’s use of her song wouldn’t be beneficial and passed up on Ye’s offer.

As for why the song is currently unavailable to stream on DSPs in certain markets, Summer’s estate said they reached out to streaming platforms to remove the song. Though streaming platforms like Apple and Spotify removed the song, it eventually returned to the tracklist. However, the song already gained millions of streams and for those who purchased the album on Apple Music, it’s apparently still available to listen to. The estate of Donna Summer is seeking major damages, along with an injunction to prevent the song from being distributed. 

Read More: Kanye West Claims “Vultures 1” Is No. 1 In 72 Countries, Including Israel

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Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign’s “GOOD (DON’T DIE)” Back On Spotify After Sample Issues

Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative album Vultures has gone through a lot of hoops and obstacles to finally land on streaming services. Moreover, one of the biggest issues that the Yeezy-donning duo faced was that of sample clearances, and one of these cases relates to a legendary track. For those unaware, they used Donna Summer’s classic “I Feel Love” on their song “GOOD (DON’T DIE),” which the legendary artist’s estate claimed they didn’t clear properly. As such, the track disappeared off Spotify, but on Saturday (February 24), fans noticed that it’s back on the tracklist, although they still have a lot of questions.

For one, when you actually click on “GOOD (DON’T DIE)” on Vultures 1‘s tracklist, the cover art that appears in your Spotify player will appear with an odd, amateurish, digitally illustrated cover -– at least, as of writing this article. It’s unclear if this is just a glitch, an intentional choice, or a mistake to be rectified soon, but either way, it points to this song’s return as incomplete, or at least contested. Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign are currently in Europe for some listening events, so we don’t know how on top of all this they are. Considering how fickle these changes and developments may be… enjoy “GOOD (DON’T DIE)” while you can, Spotify users. It might disappear as soon as you read this.

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Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign Bring Donna Summer Track Back To Spotify’s Vultures 1

Furthermore, another big issue with Vultures‘ release was its distribution. Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign were able to release it independently via Yeezy and with the help of a generous online distributor. They ended up making massive profits as a result, and fans lauded this as a massive success. Still, when looking at the antisemitic and far-right-tied reasons for this difficulty in securing a distributor, it did make fans lament this conflictive situation.

Regardless, fans are still bumping Vultures heavily, especially since we don’t really know what could happen with the album next. Yeat’s 2093 is expected to overtake its top spot on the Billboard charts this week, but all fans want is a consistent way to listen to the album. Let’s see what the future holds for this evolving and always scrutinized LP. For more news and the latest updates on Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign, stay logged into HNHH.

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Kelly Rowland Receives Blessing From Donna Summer’s Family To Play The Late Singer In A Limited Series

Donna Summer’s estate isn’t a fan of Kanye West. That much is clear from their recent statement regarding his unauthorized use of the late singer’s music. But one entertainer has their stamp of approval—Kelly Rowland.

For years, users online have pledged with the estate to case Rowland in a biopic about the late singer. Now, it appears as if that could be in the works. While attending the 2024 Grammys, Summer’s daughters, Mimi Sommer, Brooklyn Sudano, Amanda Sudano, and her late husband, Bruce Sudano, officially blessed the highly-requested project.

During an interview with XONecole, Bruce revealed that the family is open to the idea but has a minor tweak. “Yes, we’re interested, but our inclination is to do a limited series,” he said. “Because there is so much nuance and different phases of Donna’s life and career that would give us a little more latitude in telling her story. And connecting with people on a different level—not only on the music level but on the human level. That’s the road that we’re exploring now. As far as Kelly, we love Kelly. We’ll see!”

As for when this content is set to be revealed, supporters will need to hold out a bit longer, considering the award-winning documentary Love to Love You, Donna Summer only hit streaming platforms released last year.

It is safe to assume Rowland is on board with the creative shift. For Halloween 2019, Rowland paid homage to Summer as part of her glamourous costume for the evening. In February 2023, she gushed about the documentary online.

Also, during an appearance on Poer 105.1′ FM’s The Breakfast Club in November 2022, Rowland gleamed excitedly about the possibility of her stepping into Summer’s shoes. “Donna Summer has an illustrious life, and I think seeing it on screen would be so incredibly entertaining, mindblowing, and worth watching for anyone,” she said.

Watch the full clip of Donna Summer’s family above.

Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign Track Taken Off Spotify After Donna Summer Estate Complaint

Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign recently dropped off their new album Vultures 1. In fact, the album came out over the weekend and fans have been eager to give it more listens. Overall, the release was a bit confusing. It was dropped off on Apple Music and Amazon Music, but not Spotify. Eventually, the album came out on Spotify but there was a period where it had been taken off of Apple Music. This is the norm with a lot of Kanye releases, so fans were not all that surprised by the confusion.

Subsequently, the estate of Donna Summer spoke out about how the song “I Feel Love” was interpolated on “Good (Don’t Die).” As the story goes, Kanye wanted to sample it but was denied permission. Consequently, Ye allegedly took matters into his own hands and used AI to get what he wanted. “Kanye West… asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song I Feel Love, he was denied… he changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI but it’s I Feel Love… copyright infringement!!!” the estate said.

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Kanye West Hit With Another Tough Break

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Recording artist Kanye West performs onstage during The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage)

According to Billboard, the song has been taken off of Vultures 1, although just the Spotify version. Every other streaming platform still has the song, which has brought about some confusion. Whatever the case, it is clear that the Donna Summer complaint has made an impact on the album. Only time will tell whether or not Kanye will be able to put the track back on his project.

Let us know how you have been feeling about Vultures, in the comments section down below. What is your favorite track so far? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.

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