Indie label 2Point9 Records has filed a copyright lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment-owned label Ministry of Sound Recordings in the UK. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement over DJ Regard’s remix hit “Ride It,” claiming that the remix substantially sampled Jay Sean’s original version of the song without authorization. 2Point9 claims that Ministry of Sound Recordings was aware of the unauthorized sample but chose to release the track anyway without entering into meaningful commercial discussions.
Regard’s remix of “Ride It” gained popularity after being posted on TikTok in 2019 and quickly became a viral hit. It reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart and No. 3 on the US Billboard Top 100 Hot Dance/Electronic chart. The remix has garnered over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify and has been viewed more than 500 million times on YouTube. Jay Sean’s original version of “Ride It” has over 97 million streams on Spotify and around 75 million views on YouTube.
2Point9 alleges that Ministry of Sound Recordings knew about the unauthorized sample before the official release of the remix in June 2019. The label claims that Ministry of Sound initially claimed to have re-recorded the track but later admitted that it still contained the unauthorized sample. Several months after the remix’s release, Ministry of Sound replaced the infringing track with one that had re-recorded vocals. However, by that time, the track had already amassed 150 million streams on Spotify and millions of views on YouTube.
Unable to reach a commercial solution, 2Point9 has taken the matter to the High Court. Co-founder Billy Grant expressed determination to seek justice, stating that Ministry of Sound Recordings has treated their label with arrogance and dismissiveness throughout the process. He emphasized that it is not acceptable for a major label to disregard the commercial rights of independent labels and that there should be consequences for such actions.
Ministry of Sound Recordings, originally the recording label of the famous London nightclub Ministry of Sound, was acquired by Sony Music Entertainment UK in 2016. 2Point9 Records, launched in 2003, has played a significant role in promoting artists like Craig David, Mis-Teeq, and Jay Sean. The label aims to hold Ministry of Sound accountable for its actions and highlight the importance of respecting the rights of independent labels in the music industry.
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