Songwriting News

Welcome to the songwriting news section on WritersWrite.com. Here you will find the latest news about hit songs, songwriters, the music industry and more. Click here to return to the Songwriting homepage.

Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Lawsuit Over Marvin Gaye Song (May 4, 2023): Ed Sheeran has won a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him for his song Thinking Out Loud. The suit was brought by the estate of late Ed Townsend.

Katy Perry Wins Dark Horse Copyright Case (March 18, 2020): Katy Perry wins the Dark Horse copyright case after a federal judge overturns the jury's 2019 decision.

Patti Smith Performed A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall as Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (December 10, 2016): Patti Smith stumbled but recovered during a moving rendition of Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall at the Nobel Prize for Literature ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.

Patti Smith Will Perform in Bob Dylan's Honor at the Nobel Ceremony (December 6, 2016): Bob Dylan won't attend the Nobel Prize ceremony, but he is sending an acceptance speech. Patti Smith will perform A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall in his honor.

Bob Dylan Refuses to Attend Nobel Prize Ceremony (November 16, 2016): Bob Dylan declines to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony. The Swedish Academy says that's fine, but you have six months to give your Nobel Lecture...or else.

Swedish Academy Member Calls Bob Dylan Impolite and Arrogant (October 24, 2016): A commitee member of the Swedish Academy blasted Bob Dylan for being impolite and arrogant for refusing to acknowledge that he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Nobel Committee Gives Up On Trying to Contact Bob Dylan (October 20, 2016): The Nobel Committee has given up on ever speaking with Bob Dylan to tell him he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. They are hopeful he will show up for the award ceremony, though.

Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize for Literature (October 13, 2016): The literary community was shocked today to learn that singer songwriter Bob Dylan just won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Committee knows the choice was controversial.

Taylor Swift Wrote Calvin Harris and Rihanna's Hit Song This is What You Came For (July 13, 2016): Taylor Swift secretly wrote This is What You Came For by Calvin Harris and Rihanna. She used the pseudonym Nils Sjoberg.

Judge Denies Led Zeppelin's Motion to End Stairway to Heaven Trial Early (June 20, 2016): A judge refused to stop the Stairway to Heaven trial ruling that Led Zeppelin must continue to trial to defend copyright claims brought against it.

Singer Songwriter Prince Dead at 57 (April 21, 2016): The Oscar and multiple Grammy Award winning singer songwriter Prince was found dead in his home at the age of 57.

Bruce Springsteen Memoir Hits Bookstores in September (February 13, 2016): Bruce Springsteen has finished writing his autobiography. Born to Run is being published by Simon and Schuster, and will hit bookstores in September, 2016.

Big Bang Theory Producers Sued for Copyright Infringement of Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty Song (January 5, 2016): The Big Bang Theory producers are being sued for copyright violations over the song Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty which was written by poet Edith Newlin in 1937.

Taylor Swift Sued for $42 Million for Alleged Copyright Infringement (November 2, 2015): Taylor Swift is being sued by songwriter who says she stole the lyrics for Shake it Off from him. He wants $42 million and a writing credit.

Sam Smith Wrote New Bond Theme Song in Twenty Minutes (September 9, 2015): Sam Smith wrote the new james Bond Theme song for Spectre. He says he wrote the song, Writing's on the Wall, in 20 minutes.

Taylor Swift Criticizes Apple Music's Free Trial in Open Letter (June 21, 2015): Taylor Swift has criticized Apple's new music service in an open letter. She attacks the tech giant for offering three months free while not paying artists and songwriters.

Uptown Funk Gets Five More Writers in Settlement of Copyright Dispute (May 2, 2015): Gap Band gets writing credit on Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' hit Uptown Funk in settlement of copyright dispute.

Robin Thicke and Pharrell Hit With $7.4 Million Verdict in Blurred Lines Copyright Infringement Case (March 11, 2015): Robin Thicke and Pharrell lost their copyright infringement case. The jury found they infringed the song Got to Give It Up by Marvin Gaye.

Sam Smith to Pay Tom Petty Songwriting Royalties for Stay With Me (January 28, 2015): Sam Smith has agreed to pay songwriting royalties for the hit song Stay With Me

Taylor Swift's Departure From Spotify Hailed by Songwriters (November 12, 2014): Songwriters are happy that Taylor Swift has pulled her music from Spotify. Songwriters are paid almost nothing in royalties under these streaming service agreements.