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Legal Top Stories
R&B star sues over Snap sample
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009
Not sure why this is happening now, but there you go. R&B singer Jocelyn Brown is reportedly suing over the sampling of her song ‘Loves Gonna Get You’ in the 1990 dance hit ‘The Power’ by German combo Snap!. I think the key line “I’ve got the power” came from Brown’s track. She claims the sample was never cleared, and attempts over the years by her and her record company to secure a royalty have been unsuccessful.
Why it has taken the best part of twenty years to go legal really isn’t clear. It’s possible that there was some confusion as to whether or not the sample was re-recorded by Snap!, or whether the original Brown vocal was used. Certainly Snap! re-recorded some of the other samples in their hit prior to its American release.
Brown is quoted as saying: “They started saying they had re-recorded the vocal with another singer – which was insulting, don’t you think I know my own voice? I used to feel depressed they had stolen my voice. Now I’ve decided to fight”.
Brown’s lawsuit is seemingly backed by Warner Music, and reports say a “German company” who originally licensed the track off the Snap! team are named as defendants. I’m not sure if that means Sony-owned Ariola, who were definitely involved in the European release of the song somewhere along the line. Brown and Warner want 50% of revenue generated by the song over the years, which could be millions.
