K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of Ador
English jazz-funk band Shakatak has hired a musicologist to find out whether K-pop girl group NewJeans' new single, "Bubble Gum" plagiarized its 1981 hit, "Easier Said Than Done," shortly after the quintet's agency Ador denied the allegations.
"To all our fans and friends in Korea, thank you for all your comments about the usage of 'Easier Said Than Done' in several recent songs," Shakatak said on X, Friday (local time.) "Our publishing company Wise Music Group is on the case and has employed a musicologist to take this further. We will keep you posted."
The band, consisting of Bill Sharpe, Nigel Wright, Roger Odell and Keith Winter, shared the post one day after Ador dismissed the plagiarism allegations it raised. "Bubble Gum," a tune featured on NewJeans' May album, "How Sweet," is a retro-tinged track written by composers including 250, Oscar Bell and Sophie Simmons. Among them, 250 is the producer behind NewJeans' smash-hits such as "Attention" (2022) and "Hype Boy" (2022).
"We received a letter from Shakatak (over the issue) on June 17 and our legal team sent a reply on June 21," Ador said in a statement. "We replied that 'Bubble Gum' did not unlawfully use Shakatak's composition and asked the band to submit a credible analysis report (to support its claim.)"
English band Shakatak / Captured from X
The label added that it had not yet received a report.
"Shakatak said on June 21 that it would soon provide the report, but it has not arrived yet," Ador said. "Those bringing up the plagiarism allegations should send a report, so it is Shakatak who needs to respond now."
Shakatak's publishing company, Wise Music Group, recently appointed a law firm in Korea and sent a letter of claim to Ador, its parent company HYBE, the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) and Sony Music Publishing Hong Kong, demanding they cease using "Bubble Gum" and pay compensation for unlawful use of "Easier Said Than Done." Wise Music Group insisted that the two songs share similar melody hooks, instrumentation, rhythmic shapes and tempos, among others.
The plagiarism accusations were first made on April 27, the day when the "Bubble Gum" music video was unveiled. Some online users alleged that its melodies sounded similar to those of "Easier Said Than Done," while others said that it might have sampled Shakatak's hit song. This debate has prompted the English band, which debuted in 1980, to look into the issue.
Music fans and critics are showing mixed reactions to this controversy. Some people are criticizing Shakatak for making "baseless accusations," while others call for an in-depth investigation to reveal the truth.
Music critic Kang Il-kwon questioned the appropriateness of Ador's action.
"It is strange," Kang said on Facebook. "Why should the side that raised the (plagiarism) allegations send a report to prove its claim? The accused side is the one who should defend itself ... It is unknown for now whether Shakatak has officially filed a complaint, but even in this case, it does not need to hand in any report."
In April, Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who is currently having a dispute with HYBE over management control, insisted that HYBE copied NewJeans' formula to produce ILLIT, a rookie girl group launched by HYBE's sub-label, Belift Lab. But it is unknown whether Min submitted an analysis report to back up her claim.