In 1997, Richard Ashcroft and The Verve were forced to hand over songwriting credit and all royalties to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for their song ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony.’ It wasn’t because of a sample, but instead a much tougher reason.
If Ashcroft and The Verve had written their own melodies and lyrics for their songs, none of this would have happened. Only people who are creatively bankrupt would need to start sampling songs that already exist.
I get the string sampling issue…that's undeniable and an unfortunate misunderstanding. But the vocal melodies in isolation aren't really that similar at all to that original Stones track. If it weren't for the string arrangement connection, nobody would even have had that thought pop into their heads. This was a case of lawyers on a fishing expedition and sadly succeeding.
Not in any way supporting Allen Klein but the idea that this song is entirely Ashcroft's is a bit misleading – the song entirely rely's on that hook. It's the distinctive melody which captivated so many people, lyrically it's just a lovely poem but wouldn't have reached so many people without it.
If Jagger and Richards had returned the royalties, nobody would ever know about it anyway. Just like the general public don’t know anything about money donated to charities etc.
@BabyIveBeenWaiting
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
If Ashcroft and The Verve had written their own melodies and lyrics for their songs, none of this would have happened. Only people who are creatively bankrupt would need to start sampling songs that already exist.
@bucky_fuller_rulez
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Rest In Piss, Allen
@shawtknight
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
This video is why I have NEVER bought any music from any company.
@JohnVerpeleti
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Great presentation of a particualrly interesting music industry story. 👏
@RonanMontague
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
On Instagram we’d just mention in the caption where we got the inspiration for our own creativity lol this is a shame. One of my all time fav songs.
@BigFuzzyLHG
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Hip hop history is made by samples, and it's ok
@j.4689
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Meanwhile, Ashcroft stiffs the other Verve members and keeps the royalties all to himself and the cycle of greed continues…
@andrewb8074
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
I get the string sampling issue…that's undeniable and an unfortunate misunderstanding. But the vocal melodies in isolation aren't really that similar at all to that original Stones track. If it weren't for the string arrangement connection, nobody would even have had that thought pop into their heads. This was a case of lawyers on a fishing expedition and sadly succeeding.
@owre
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
This song was NOT written solely by Ashcroft. The saga isn’t resolved.
@RaymondNolasco
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Thumbnail pic giving off Habsburg Royalty vibes
@comment15
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Jagger and Richards should have spoke up at the time.
@mattgirling
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
"…a problem: Allen Klein"
@Magoooobly
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Taking a song to court for being too much like another song will never not be insane
@dknelson
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
always the chosen.
@ronbendalthe2nd
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Not in any way supporting Allen Klein but the idea that this song is entirely Ashcroft's is a bit misleading – the song entirely rely's on that hook. It's the distinctive melody which captivated so many people, lyrically it's just a lovely poem but wouldn't have reached so many people without it.
@ulrichrohde4071
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Ridiculous! This way you can declare 95% of the entire pop-music from the 50s on plagiarisms. That´s very far-fetched.
@BritainBelike-n8x
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
All music/tv people from 50’s 60’s 70’s 80’s was either kiddie fiddler or just a con artist or just a big cry baby😂
@NastyHabits7s
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
If Jagger and Richards had returned the royalties, nobody would ever know about it anyway. Just like the general public don’t know anything about money donated to charities etc.
@CyberKaz
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
copyfright vs freight vs has moved to uranus.
@piespeafield
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Nothing alike
Comments are closed.