Vale our amazing client, Judith Durham
Judith Durham, one of Australia’s most recognisable voices, has passed away at 79. An icon of the Australian music industry as lead singer for The Seekers and a solo artist, hers was an enduring female voice in an industry still dominated by men. Georgy Girl, A World of Our Own and The Carnival Is Over […]
News Alert: Stamp Duty and late settlement interest
The Victorian State Revenue Office announced that as of 1 July 2022 Late Settlement Interest (LSI)where it is $5k or more and the contract was entered into after 1 July 2022 be subject to stamp duty where it arises from a delayed settlement. In Victoria, penalty interest is 2% pa above the interest pursuant to […]
News Alert: Stamp Duty and late settlement interest
The Victorian State Revenue Office announced that as of 1 July 2022 Late Settlement Interest (LSI)where it is $5k or more and the contract was entered into after 1 July 2022 be subject to stamp duty where it arises from a delayed settlement. In Victoria, penalty interest is 2% pa above the interest pursuant to […]
HOW TO MERGE YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC WITH YOUR LEGAL CAREER: CHELSEA’S STORY
https://www.collaw.edu.au/news/2022/05/26/entertainment-law-chelsea-donaghue Studying law is a demanding pursuit, and every law student knows it’s easy to fall behind. For Chelsea Donaghue, being a backing singer and vocal coach meant she was often catching lectures between shows, flights, rehearsals and soundchecks. Since graduating, Chelsea has managed to marry her passions in a single career, working as a music […]
Paramount Pictures is on a Highway to the Danger Zone as Copyright Infringements are Levelled
Film conglomerate Paramount Pictures was recently hit with copyright infringement allegations by Shosh and Yuval Yonay, the widow and son of the late author of the article ‘Top Guns’. The Yonay’s claim that the rights to Ehud Yonay’s 1983 article which inspired the storyline behind the ‘Top Gun’ film, reverted back to them on 24 […]
Mariah Carey sued for alleged copyright infringement over ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’
Mariah Carey, her co-writer Walter Afanasieff and the Sony Music Group are being sued by musician, Andy Stone for their well-known Christmas tune All I Want for Christmas Is You. In a civil lawsuit filed in Louisiana, Stone alleges he co-wrote and recorded a song with the same name in 1989 and never permitted, consented […]
The Power of People: Crowdfunding rescues Basement Discs
The generosity of many music-lovers has recently saved Melbourne-based record store, Basement Discs. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Basement Discs co-owners Suzanne Bennett and Rod Jacobs struggled to pay rent. The Block Arcade store co-owners said that the store had faced a decrease in sales by approximately 80% because of the pandemic. To […]
Pop-sensation Ed Sheeran has won his copyright battle
On April 6, pop-sensation Ed Sheeran and his co-writers, John McDaid and Steven McCutcheon won their legal battle against Sami Chokri, who performs under the name of Sami Switch. The victory comes after arduous litigation where Sami Chokri accused Sheeran of copying the chorus in Chokri’s song “Oh Why”. The copyright claims waged against Sheeran, […]
Top Songwriters Face the Music
Industry professionals have been accustomed to warning songwriters of the potential legal battles they can face as a result of copyright breaches. However, with the growth of streaming services and multiple teams of writers behind the chart-toppers, copyright infringements are on the rise. Recently, Ed Sheeran has faced the music, accused of copying the chorus […]
Interpolation and what it has to do with Olivia Rodrigo, Marvin Gaye & Justin Timberlake.
When listening to a song, do you ever find that it sounds reminiscent of something, but you aren’t sure of what? Often this is because artists will recreate an existing musical composition in their own. In the music industry, this is called interpolation. For example, have a listen to Halsey’s ‘Without Me’ and you may […]
Scarlett Johansson is suing The Walt Disney Company.
Scarlett Johansson is suing The Walt Disney Company over its release of Black Widow. Directed by Australian Cate Shortland, the Film is the most recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The lawsuit comes after Disney premiered the film on its streaming service Disney Plus on 9 July, the same day it premiered in movie […]
Five Lessons Australia’s Music Industry Needs To Take Away From The Sony Workplace Crisis
Great Article from the team at themusic.com.au In light of Sony Music Entertainment Australia’s ongoing workplace crisis, ‘The Music’ team has been speaking with industry across the country to gauge their reaction on what this means for the Australian music industry. Here, ‘The Music’ team share these thoughts, as well as our own as publishers, […]