Imagine this: You’re grooving to your favorite K-pop tune, only to find out it’s caught in a plagiarism scandal.
That’s what’s happening with NewJeans and their hit song “Bubble Gum.” The English band Shakatak has raised eyebrows by accusing NewJeans of lifting parts of their 1982 track “Easier Said Than Done.”
So, did NewJeans really plagiarize Shakatak’s song?
NewJeans’ agency ADOR firmly denies these allegations. According to them, “Bubble Gum” did not unlawfully use Shakatak’s composition. They’ve challenged the English band, Shakatak to present credible evidence to back up their claims.
In mid-June, WISE MUSIC GROUP, representing Shakatak, sent a stern letter to ADOR, HYBE Labels, and several other entities, demanding the immediate cessation of “Bubble Gum” sales.
They claimed the song shared “the same distinctive melody hook, similar instrumentation, rhythmic shapes, and almost identical tempo” with Shakatak’s song. WISE MUSIC GROUP also demanded compensation and a legal change in ownership.
“We have confirmed that the song ‘Bubble Gum’, composed and written by 250, Oscar Bell, Sophie Simmons, and Gigi and sung by NewJeans, is using components of the song ‘Easier Said Than Done’ by Shakatak without permission from WISE MUSIC GROUP. As a result, we demand immediate measures of response, including the discontinued sale of ‘Bubble Gum’. We have included detailed demands including the discontinued sale of ‘Bubble Gum’, the reporting of all profits from this work, a legal change in ownership, a seal, and payment for damages.”
However, ADOR responded swiftly, standing by their claim that “Bubble Gum” was original. They insisted that Shakatak provide a detailed analytical report proving the infringement.
ADOR highlighted that the burden of proof lies with the accuser and emphasized their readiness to contest the allegations.
An ADOR official stated,
“This letter sent by Shakatak’s legal representative was received and answered by the law firm representing the composers of ‘Bubble Gum’. We do not believe that ‘Bubble Gum’ used Shakatak’s composition without permission. We have demanded that Shakatak’s side present a credible analytical report with clear evidence of the accused copyright infringement.”
So far, WISE MUSIC GROUP has promised to deliver an analytical report but has yet to follow through. This delay has only fueled the tension between both parties, leaving Korean fans and critics alike on edge.
What do you think? Is “Bubble Gum” too similar to “Easier Said Than Done” or is this a case of mistaken similarities?
Averagebeing’s Take: The first 20 seconds and the choruses of both songs do have a similar vibe, but let’s leave the final verdict to the courtroom.
