Ed Sheeran Says He’ll Stop Making Music If He Loses Copyright Lawsuit Over Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”
MARVIN GAYE
Ed Sheeran Vows To Quit Music
It’s been a rough few weeks for Ed Sheeran. The singer has been in court due to a copyright lawsuit against Marvin Gaye’s estate. Additionally, Sheeran has been testifying in court for the “striking similarities” in his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud” to Gaye’s classic, “Let’s Get It On.” Despite being filed in 2017, the case has finally made its way to a judge. Ed Sheeran received a Grammy for Song of the Year for the single upon its release. The jury is instructed to consider the raw elements of melody, harmony, and rhythm, that make up the composition of the Motown classic.
However, Ed Sheeran’s legal team denies all allegations. They said the elements of the song structurally are undeniable. With that being said, Sheeran’s team also noted that the symmetry points solely to the foundation of popular music. “The two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters,” said Ed Sheeran’s legal team. Moreover, this isn’t the first time Marvin Gaye’s estate has sued for similarities. Robin Thick, T.I., and Pharrell ran into legal troubles with the singer’s estate. Over similarities to Gaye’s hit song “Got To Give It Up,” his estate was awarded millions in the lawsuit. It’s still one of the largest copyright lawsuits to date.
Ed Sheeran Is Hangin’ It Up
In Ed’s recent testimony, if found guilty of copyright, he will quit music. On Monday the “Shape of You” singer testified and vehemently denied all allegations and claims. When asked by his attorney Illene Farkas to explain the “toll” the lawsuit has taken on him he responded candidly. He said if found guilty, “I’m done, I’m stopping.” Additionally, Sheeran noted, “I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”
It would be terrible to see such a talent like Ed Sheeran stop making music if found guilty. However, just for clarity, it isn’t Marvin Gaye’s family that’s suing Ed Sheeran for plagiarizing his song. It’s his co-writer Ed Townsends estate that filed the case against the U.K. singer. Gaye’s family actually has nothing to do with the case personally. How do you feel about all of this? Do you think Ed Sheeran would really quit making music if found guilty? Let the HNHH staff know in the comments section below!
Ed Sheeran Played Guitar and Sang During Testimony in Trial Alleging “Let’s Get It On” Copyright Infringement
Ed Sheeran Performs In Court During Copyright Trial
Ed Sheeran is currently at the center of a copyright trial. According to the suit filed against Sheeran, the British singer-songwriter stole the instrumental progression of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”. The suit was filed by Gaye’s family, as well as “Let’s Get It On” composer Ed Townsend. “Let’s Get It On” was released in 1973, reached #1 in the charts, and is certified Platinum. “Thinking Out Loud”, the song at the center of the suit, peaked at #2 in the US but is twelve times Platinum-certified.
It’s not the first time Sheeran has been accused of stealing from other artists. In 2017, two songwriters were added to the credits of Sheeran’s “Photograph” after alleging it stole from their song “Amazing”. However, the size and scope of this latest trial have made it headline news.
Sheeran Performs “Thinking Out Loud” For Jury
While Sheeran was able to settle the “Photograph” suit out of court, the case filed by Gaye’s family has gone to trial. As part of the proceedings, Sheeran was invited to play the opening to “Thinking Out Loud” in court. This was in order to prove that while there are similarities, the two songs are very different. Sheeran also argued that “When I write vocal melodies, it’s like phonetics.” This was part of his argument that the songs are similar, but that “Thinking Out Loud” is its own original song. Additionally, he argued that he and co-writer Amy Wadge did not have “Let’s Get It On” in mind when creating “Thinking Out Loud”.
This lawsuit has been in the works since Sheeran released “Thinking Out Loud” in 2014. The songs are incredibly similar in regard to chord progression and tempo. However, musical copyright is decided by what is in the sheet music, not session records. Despite this, while performing live for the jury is a big bonus, there is evidence against Sheeran. Most notably, footage exists of Sheeran performing a mashup of the two songs due to their close similarity. Gaye cannot perform for the jury, but the aforementioned evidence is sure to make an appearance in the trial. Be sure to check back with HotNewHipHop for any updates as this trial unfolds.
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Here’s Why Ed Sheeran Is Getting Sued Over a Marvin Gaye Song
Here Is Why Ed Sheeran Is Being Sued By Marvin Gaye’s Estate
Ed Sheeran’s trial pertaining to the lawsuit from Marvin Gaye’s estate has started. For those who might not be aware of the situation, here’s why it’s causing some waves.
The copyright infringement lawsuit against Sheeran is over his 2014 song, “Thinking Out Loud,” which Gaye’s estate has claimed copies the late singer’s “Let’s Get It On.” It was officially filed by the family of the song’s co-writer and composer Ed Townsend.
It claims that Sheeran’s song used the same instrumental progressions and “repeated it continuously throughout ‘Thinking’ — this incontrovertible musical similarity has been observed by music industry professionals previously, as embodied by various social media and articles about the matter,” according to the filing.
“For far too long, Black artists have created, inspired and spread music all around the world,” the Townsend’s lawyer, Ben Crump, told CBS News. “Mr. Sheeran’s infringement of Black artists is merely another example of artists exploiting the genius and the work of Black singers and songwriters.”
Sheeran is also facing two other lawsuits tied to copyright infringement on the song — these filed by Structured Asset Sales, a company that holds a stake in “Let’s Get It On,” according to Vulture.
And, while most copyright lawsuits get dismissed, Gaye’s estate has a track record of being successful in past cases. They were awarded over $5 million in 2015, after claiming Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s “Blurred Lines” borrowed from “Got To Give It Up.”
Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Ed Sheeran Denies Stealing Marvin Gaye Song As Plagiarism Trial Is Underway
Opening statements were set to occur Tuesday after a jury was chosen in a trial that mashes up Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” with Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
The heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer of the 1973 soul classic, sued Sheeran, alleging the English pop star’s hit 2014 tune has “striking similarities” to “Let’s Get It On” and “overt common elements” that violate their copyright.
The lawsuit filed in 2017 has finally made it to a trial that is expected to last up to two weeks in the Manhattan federal courtroom of 95-year-old Judge Louis L. Stanton.
Sheeran, 32, is among the witnesses expected to testify, though he was not in court at the start of jury selection. He was expected to be in court on Tuesday.
“Let’s Get It On” is the sexy slow jam that’s been heard in countless films and commercials and garnered hundreds of millions of streams, spins and radio plays over the past 50 years. “Thinking Out Loud,” which won a Grammy for song of the year, is a much more marital take on love and sex.
While the jury will hear the recordings of both songs, probably many times, their lyrics — and vibes — are legally insignificant. Jurors are supposed to only consider the raw elements of melody, harmony and rhythm that make up the composition of “Let’s Get It On,” as documented on sheet music filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The post Ed Sheeran Denies Stealing Marvin Gaye Song As Plagiarism Trial Is Underway appeared first on The Source.
Ed Sheeran Thinks He’d Have To ‘Be Quite An Idiot’ To Do What He’s Accused Of In The Marvin Gaye Plagiarism Case
The legal battle between Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye’s team. Yesterday (April 25) in a New York courtroom, Sheeran defended his songwriting for his 2014 single, “Thinking Out Loud,” which Gaye’s team has alleged plagiarizes his song, “Let’s Get It On.”
In 2016, the heirs of Gaye’s co-writer on “Let’s Get It On,” Ed Townsend, filed a lawsuit against Sheeran, alleging that he and Amy Wadge, the co-writer of “Thinking Out Loud,” replicated an ascending four-chord sequence, as well as a rhythm.
Per The Guardian, Sheeran appeared in court and claimed that he and Wadge wrote the song taking inspiration from the love his grandparents shared.
Ben Crump, the plaintiff’s lawyer, then referred to a video of Sheeran performing a mashup of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” during one of his shows, calling the moment “a confession” of plagiarism.
Sheeran then replied, saying, “Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs… You could go from [The Beatles’] ‘Let it Be’ to [Bob Marley’s] ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and switch back.”
He continued, “If I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
Sheeran’s lawyer, Ilene S. Farkas, also argued, saying, “The two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters.”
However, Townsend’s daughter Kathryn Griffin Townsend, who appeared as a witness in the hearing, continued to fight. She lauded Sheeran’s craft, but noted that she intends to “protect [her] father’s legacy.”
The hearings are expected to continue throughout the week.
Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Ed Sheeran Set To Testify In Marvin Gaye “Thinking Out Loud” Trial
Ed Sheeran will be taking the stand in court today amidst the copyright trial against Marvin Gaye’s estate, according to The Daily Mail. The UK singer is being sued for striking similarities in his 2014 hit record “Thinking Out Loud” that allegedly rips off Gaye’s bedroom classic “Let’s Get It On.” The heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer, are suing Sheeran with damning allegations. They allege “striking similarities” and “overt common elements” between the songs. Despite being filed in 2017, the lawsuit has finally made its way before a judge and jury.
The trial is set to last a week in the Manhattan federal courtroom of 95-year-old Judge Louis L. Stanton. Ed Sheeran won a Grammy for song of the year with “Thinking Out Loud” upon its release in 2014. However, “Let’s Get It On,” was one of Motown’s best-known singles. It landed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Pop Singles in 1973. Furthermore, the jury is expected to consider the raw elements of melody, harmony, and rhythm, that make up the composition of “Let’s Get It On.” Regardless, Ed Sheeran’s lawyers have said their rebuttals.
Ed Sheeran’s Being Sued For Copyright
They said the songs’ undeniable structural symmetry points solely to the foundation of popular music. “The two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters,” they said in court records. While this case may be polarizing, Gaye’s estate is not involved. However, it does bring back remnants of their successful infamous lawsuit against Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. Gaye’s estate was awarded millions over resemblances to the 2013 smash hit “Blurred Lines” to Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.”
Not only that, it was dubbed as one of the most significant copyright cases to date. Sheeran’s label Atlantic Records and Sony/ATV Music Publishing are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. Usually, plaintiffs start broad when naming defendants, however, a judge can eliminate any names if necessary. How do you feel about this lawsuit, did Ed Sheeran rip off Marvin Gaye? Let us know what you think in the comments!
The Best Vinyl Releases Of December 2021
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of December below.
Bo Burnham — Inside (The Songs)
Is Inside (The Songs) a comedy album? If you’re the Recording Academy, you might not think so. Regardless, the album and its parent Netflix special were some of the year’s most talked-about pop culture, and now the music is available on vinyl. That means you can listen to songs about the internet on a format that pre-dates it.
Get it here.
Fucked Up — David Comes To Life (10th Anniversary Edition)
Matador has spent a good chunk of the year reissuing some beloved releases from across their catalog, and the latest album to get that treatment is Fucked Up’s David Comes To Life. This 2-LP edition is pressed on “lightbulb-yellow” vinyl, and if that isn’t enough, the group is embarking on a brief tour in January, during which they’ll perform the album in full.
Get it here.
The New Pornographers — Mass Romantic (21st Anniversary Reissue)
Speaking of Matador, here’s another rerelease from the label, of The New Pornographers’ Mass Romantic. That LP turns 21 years old this year and this new edition of it comes with a bonus 7-inch, Letter From An Occupant, that includes two rare B-sides, “The End Of Medicine” and “When I Was A Baby.”
Get it here.
Cults — Cults (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Reissue)
Cults had a hit on their hands with their 2011 self-titled debut album, and now the beloved LP is ten years old. The band is celebrating that milestone with a special anniversary vinyl edition that features, alongside the original album, three bonus tracks pulled from the original recording sessions. The reissue is limited to just 1,000 total copies spread across three distinct pressings: 250 copies on gold vinyl, 250 on black and milky clear colored vinyl, and 500 on standard black vinyl.
Get it here.
Marvin Gaye — What’s Going On (50th Anniversary Edition)
There’s not much more to say about What’s Going On, as essentially every music fan knows how excellent and important the legendary Marvin Gaye project is. The album turned 50 years old in 2021 and this new anniversary edition is now the best way to enjoy the project on your turntable. The 2-LP release features direct-to-analog mastering and four rare tracks making their debut on vinyl, including a previously unreleased “stripped” version of the title track.
Get it here.
Pom Pom Squad — Ow EP
Ow, the 2019 EP that preceded Pom Pom Squad’s 2021 debut album Death Of A Cheerleader, wasn’t released on vinyl, but that changed this month. It comes pressed on cream white vinyl with a red label, a simple but striking visual accompaniment to the album art.
Get it here.
Fela Kuti — Vinyl Box #5
Partisan Records is working through a massive Fela Kuti reissues series, and they got Coldplay’s Chris Martin on board to help with the fifth installment. He helped curate this new collection, which features Why Black Man Dey Suffer, Noise For Vendor Mouth, Kalakuta Show, Excuse O, Ikoyi Blindness, Original Sufferhead, and Overtake Don Overtake Overtake. Each album is presented here with meticulous detail, as the art for all of them was carefully re-created from the original vinyl pressings.
Get it here.
Aeon Station — Observatory
The Wrens released The Meadowlands in 2003 and fans have been waiting for its follow-up ever since. Well, this month, one sort of arrived, as Kevin Whelan made (with help from Greg Whelan and Jerry MacDonald) a new album called Observatory, under the name Aeon Station. While this may not be the continuation of The Wrens that fans had in mind, its at least something and the striking blue vinyl will look real sharp spinning on a turntable.
Get it here.
Danny Elfman — Big Mess
Danny Elfman stays busy as one of the most esteemed purveyors of film and TV scores in the industry, but 2021 brought Big Mess, his first non-classical solo album since 1984’s So-Lo. Now he has wrapped up the year with a massive box set version of the project, a 4-LP edition that’s limited to just 1,500 copies. Aside from the core album, it includes Elfman singing a duet on “True” with Trent Reznor, as well as goodies like a life-size light-up model of Elfman’s hand, a 60-page hardcover art book, and more.
Get it here.
E-40 — The Hall Of Game (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)
As the year comes to an end, take a minute to be thankful for Vinyl Me, Please, who have spent 2021 and the years preceding it busting out exclusive vinyl reissues of some classic releases. Their current hip-hop album of the month is a winner: E-40’s The Hall Of Game. This edition is pressed on exclusive 2-LP “Rapper’s Ball Red” Galaxy vinyl and comes with a booklet of listening notes.
Get it here.
Gorillaz — Gorillaz (20th Anniversary Reissue)
Damon Albarn has been dominating the virtual band space for two decades now with Gorillaz, meaning the band’s self-titled debut album celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the band has unveiled a super deluxe vinyl box set, which includes early demos and rarities, along with a “previously unknown 27-page DMC dossier of leaked documents, memos, faxes, and some early Jamie Hewlett drawings.”
Get it here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.