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Songwriters Sue NewJeans and HYBE, Claiming 2024 Hit “How Sweet” Copied Demo
Four writers sue NewJeans, ADOR and HYBE over alleged copying of their demo "One of a Kind" in 2024 hit "How Sweet."
Four songwriters filed a copyright lawsuit on May 7 alleging NewJeans’ 2024 single “How Sweet” copied their demo “One of a Kind,” which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.
Hyein, Hanni Pham, Minji, Danielle Marsh and Haerin of NewJeans attend the 2024 Billboard Women In Music at YouTube Theater on March 06, 2024 in Inglewood, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
The lawsuit, filed Thursday (May 7) and obtained by Billboard, names ADOR, its parent company HYBE, and performers Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein and Danielle as defendants. Billboard first reported the complaint.
NewJeans released “How Sweet” in May 2024 on an EP of the same name. The song peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.
The plaintiffs are songwriters Audrey Armacost, Aidan Rodriguez, Adam Gokcebay and Michael Campanelli. They allege that an instrumental sent to Armacost by her publisher in January 2024 led to a topline session with the four writers, who say they wrote and recorded the demo “One of a Kind” and submitted it for NewJeans’ consideration.
The suit states the writers were told the demo was not selected. Four months later, after the release of “How Sweet,” the plaintiffs say the song’s first verse is “quantitatively and qualitatively similar” to the first verse of their demo.
“Both works are in 4/4 meter and the key of B flat minor. And both works contain a topline that includes an approximately eight-bar, 31-note melodic sequence consisting of four series.”
The complaint accuses HYBE, ADOR, the NewJeans members and other collaborators and distributors of failing to license the demo and violating the songwriters’ rights. The four writers are seeking a share of royalties from the commercial performance of “How Sweet.”
“Plaintiffs, as joint authors and co-owners of the composition of ‘How Sweet,’ are entitled to their pro rata share of the profits that defendants have each gained from the exploitation of ‘How Sweet,'” the filing states.
“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,” said Trevor Barrett, a lawyer for the four writers.
HYBE representatives did not immediately return a request for comment on the claims.
The new lawsuit arrives amid a separate legal and contractual dispute between NewJeans and ADOR. In 2024 the original five members attempted to leave ADOR and operate independently under the name NJZ following the firing of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. ADOR filed suit, and in October a South Korean court ruled the members must remain under their exclusive contracts through 2029.
After that ruling, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein resumed work with ADOR. Danielle will not be part of NewJeans going forward; ADOR announced in December that it had removed her from the group and alleged a member of her family bore “significant responsibility for causing this dispute.” Minji is reportedly in talks about a possible return. The Korea Herald reported this week that discussions are moving in a “positive direction.”
