They are accused of copying “How Sweet.”
Koreaboo
24 minutes ago
NewJeans, their label ADOR, and parent company HYBE are being sued in the US over claims that the group’s 2024 hit “How Sweet” copied a demo submitted during the songwriting process.
The news shocked netizens and the media, as not only are the labels involved, but the five members themselves — Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein, and Danielle — are named as defendants as well.
The lawsuit was filed on May 7 by four songwriters: Audrey Armacost, Aidan Rodriguez, Adam Gokcebay, and Michael Campanelli. Back in January 2024, Armacost was sent an instrumental by her publisher and invited to pitch topline ideas for NewJeans.
The four writers collaborated and submitted a demo called “One of a Kind.” They were told it wasn’t selected. Then “How Sweet” dropped four months later.
The songwriters say the first verse is “quantitatively and qualitatively similar” to their demo. Both tracks share the same key (B-flat minor), the same 4/4 time signature, and a specific 31-note melodic sequence across eight bars.
Adam, Aidan, Audrey and Michael are accomplished songwriters who were deeply disappointed to discover this blatant copying of their original song, ‘One of a Kind,’ in New Jeans’ ‘How Sweet.’ They look forward to having their rights acknowledged and vindicated via this lawsuit.
— The songwriters’ lawyer
| ADOR
The four are now seeking a share of royalties from what they call the “great commercial success” of “How Sweet,” which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 7 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. HYBE has not yet commented.
Source: Billboard (1) and (2)