Record Labels Sue Over Ellen’s Dance Music
Ellen can dance if she wants to, but she’s also gotta pay…as much as $150,000 per song!
[Pacific Coast News]
Television producers should know that music isn’t free, so it’s surprising that several record labels have filed a lawsuit alleging that The Ellen DeGeneres Show failed to obtain licensing rights to more than 1,000 songs since the show started.
The plaintiffs — including Arista Music, Atlantic Recording Corp., Capitol Records, Motown Record Company, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records America and Warner Bros. Records — claim that the show has used copyrighted music without permission, including “recordings by virtually every major current artist of popular music.”
The lawsuit does not specify damages, but the show could face damages between $750 and $30,000 per song. If the plaintiffs show willful infringement, damages can amount up to $150,000 per song.
Popsquire smells a settlement!
PS: The irony of Ellen becoming an American Idol judge as record labels sue her daytime talk show for failing to pay for music is not lost on Pospquire.
