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Litigation

Rick Astley seeks ‘million of dollars’ from rapper Yung Gravy for impersonating his voice in ‘Betty (Get Money)’

Published

3 years ago

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British singer and songwriter Rick Astley has sued American rapper Yung Gravy in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that the 2022 song 'Betty (Get Money)' infringed on his right of publicity. Astley objects in the suit to the featuring in the song of singer Popnick, who imitated Astley's voice and tone from 1987's song 'Never Gonna Give You Up', which was written by Stock Aitken Waterman. In addition, Astley's lawyers claim these actions violates California Civil Code § 3344 and constitutes u...

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Emmanuel is a Washington, DC-based freelance journalist, blogger and media consultant, specialising in the entertainment business and cultural trends. He was the US editor for British music industry trade publication Music Week. Previously, he was the editor of Impact, a magazine for the music publishing community (2007-2009), the global editor of US trade publication Billboard (2003-2006), and the editor in chief of Billboard’s sister publication Music & Media (1997-2003).

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Digital Economy

NMPA and US music publishers hit by antitrust lawsuit filed by X Corp for ‘anticompetitive conduct’

Published

5 days ago

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January 11, 2026

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Elon Musk's X Corp has filed an antitrust lawsuit filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas against music publishers and their trade organisation the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), accusing them of engaging in an "anticompetitive conduct." "Rather than engage in a competitive process and individually negotiate a license for their catalogues, the Music Publishers colluded through NMPA in a concerted refusal to deal with X independently. The object of ...

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Litigation

New York court rejects Salt-N-Pepa’s bid to reclaim rights to their recordings

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1 week ago

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January 9, 2026

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The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has dismissed Salt-N-Pepa's legal attempt to reclaim the rights to their recordings. In their lawsuit filed in May 2025, US hip-hop act— comprised of Cheryl James, Sandra Denton and DJ Deidra Roper, who left the band in 2019 and is not involved in the proceeding — said Universal Music Group failed to revert the rights to their recordings, even though they filed termination notices three years prior for recordings made between 1986 and ...

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Collective Management Organisations

Indian Performing Right Society takes legal action against hospitality venues playing unlicensed music

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1 week ago

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January 9, 2026

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Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) coordinated a legal campaign at the end of 2025 to ensure that major hospitality groups secured music licenses and respected licensed repertoire for the end of the year festivities. IPRS' law firm ADP Law Offices secured multiple injunction orders from Bengaluru Commercial Court, Calcutta High Court and Delhi High Court "to restrain unlicensed music usage to the New Year events," according to Ameet Datta, a principal at ADP Law Offices. The proceedings ta...

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