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Ellen DeGeneres Show being sued by music companies for playing more than 1,000 songs without permission
Watching Ellen DeGeneres dancing on her daytime talk show – either by herself or with guests such as then presidential candidate Barack Obama, Penelope Cruz or Halle Berry – is always such a delight.
But it seems that some of the world’s biggest recording companies are not so delighted. They filed a federal lawsuit this week in Nashville claiming producers violated their copyrights by playing more than 1,000 songs without permission.
Many of the songs were played during the “dance over” segment of the show, when Ellen dances from the stage to the interview area, often through the audience.
The lawsuit, coincidentally, was filed on the same day that Ellen was named as one of the judges of Fox’s American Idol.
It claims her daytime talk show has used copyrighted music without permission since its inception, including “recordings by virtually every major current artist of popular music.” The suit, which does not specify the dollar amount it seeks in damages, also alleges that the show routinely used some of the most popular songs of the day, which the record labels don’t license for daytime television at any price.
Plaintiffs include Arista Music, Atlantic Recording Corp., Capitol Records, Motown Record Company, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records America and Warner Bros. Records.
Whatever happens, keep dancin’ Ellen!
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
JJ Adams says:
I can’t believe they are suing her. If I hear a song I really like I purchase it. She’s giving them free publicity versus “Play For Pay” on radio stations.
Pierre says:
I thought that the produsers of her show would have worked out issues of clearance. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Ellen having been chosen as a judge on American Idol.
savanah anderson says:
Well they should have stopped her when she first started. They were in to get her by letting her do this over a long period of time. They knew this was bound to happen.
Insideguy says:
What drugs were the producers on Music clearances are done routinely done, albeit, not for free and with a 1,000 songs we are talking big bucks. If the artist is a guest on they show they can play one minute of music for free and pay more if they chose to play more. With all the revenue lost to Napster, YouTube and the ilk, the record companies are going full-throttle to gain back whatever they can. They way we get our entertainment is still evolving and no one can predict how this will turn out but it is going to be costly on both sides. Corporate greed is still the cock of the walk in Hollywood.
mo says:
Oh please. The music companies should be paying Ellen for the free publicity. She brings more music to non-regular radio listeners like me than anyone could ever imagine.
I’ve been exposed to more new music via Ellen than any other show or media.
Rachel says:
This is so sad.. The Record Companies where have them been? They have known that she plays the songs since she started. If I were them I would be happy that she’s playing their music getting out to the fans.
Sean Gregory says:
I don’t get it; this is why we are all going to hell.
Arista Music, Atlantic Recording Corp., Capitol Records, Motown Record Company, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records America and Warner Bros. Records – I WANT TO BOYCOTT YOU SO BAD…
WE SHOULD ALL MAKE 5 COPIES OF EACH CD WE BUY FROM THESE COMPANIES AND GIVE THEM TO OUR FRIENDS, HAVE OUR FRIENDS DO THE SAME AND SO ON AND SO ON…as if they don’t make enough money already.
ELLEN, GET YOUR OWN GROUP OF MUSICIANS OUT THERE…HIRE YOURSELF A TELENTED PUERTO RICAN TO MAKE YOU SOME GOOD MUSIC, GOOD PERCUSSION AND FORGET THE REST.
PUERTO RICAN BECAUSE YOU’LL HAVE ALL RHYTHMS COVERED SINCE THEY ARE A MIX OF ALL NATIONS.
YOU’LL HAVE AFRO, GERMAN, INDIAN, CHINNEESE, DUTCH, FRENCH, IRISH, INDIAN AND COUNTLESS OTHER RHYTHMS…
Good Luck Girl…sorry for the mess, REALLY!!! BY THE WAY I AM IRISH AND FRENCH from Metairie, Louisiana!!! Love your show…forget about the music, bring on some great percussionist and rock on girl!!!
Anna says:
Very sad story.
Keep dancing Ellen…don’t forget these vultures are watching your every move. That is what they do with famous people like you, they will hang you to dry if you let them.
Watch yourself.
Good luck!!!
Mooseybaby says:
I’m sorry to disagree with all of you. The record labels are only one part of the equation. I make my living as a songwriter and as a songwriter I can only hope that a t.v. show like Ellen’s would use my song and pay for it so that I might be able to feed my family. When I write a song and an artist records it the only way I get paid is if people pay for the right to use it. Believe me, I’m not rich, I just want to work and be paid for my work. I’m sure it is the same for you. Many of you might not be aware of the fact that when a song is played on air the artist receives no payment, only the songwriter and the publisher and record label. Just because you can’t hold something in your hand doesn’t mean it is not stealing when you take something and use it for your gain and it belongs to someone else. THIS TYPE OF THEFT IS KILLING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. Shame on you Ellen. Shame on you.
Timbuck says:
I agree with Mooseybaby. I think to some the law doesn’t apply to the ones we like. This really forces me to wonder about the intelligence of her staff. Who would not know to clear the rights first? I think it’s clear that Ellen is saving her money by hiring a non-educated, non experience crew. Is this how we get “rich?” I love Ellen and will continue to watch, as long as she pays her bills, like everyone else. This is a prime example of “It’ll cost you in the end.” Your head hurts you buy aspirin to feel better, you thirst, you buy water-Did you feel good when you played the music?