Olivia Marsh VS NewJeans: Same Plagiarism Suspicion, Opposite Response

Olivia Marsh, the sister of NewJeans' Danielle, has admitted to plagiarism allegations concerning her song 'Backseat' and issued an apology. This response contrasts with NewJeans' previous rebuttal of similar accusations.

On the 25th, Marsh's agency, Amplify, released a statement addressing the plagiarism claims made by American singer Isaac Dunbar. They stated, "There has been controversy over the similarity between 'Backseat', one of the double title tracks from 'Meanwhile' released on the 13th, and Isaac Dunbar's 'Onion Boy'. After comparing the two songs, we found merit in Dunbar's claims." Many have noted the resemblance in the brass sounds and chord progressions of the two tracks.

Marsh's team further stated, "We have reached an amicable agreement with Isaac Dunbar. We are currently negotiating songwriting credits and ensuring the original creator's rights are respected." They added, "We sincerely apologize to Isaac Dunbar and to the fans who may have been disappointed by this incident."

This approach by Olivia Marsh is in stark contrast to NewJeans' response last year when faced with plagiarism allegations over their song 'Bubble Gum'. In July, British jazz-funk band Shakatak claimed that NewJeans' track plagiarized their song 'Easier Said Than Done', citing similarities in genre, instrumentation, and melody.

At that time, NewJeans countered, "The two songs differ in chord progression, BPM, and overall vibe." They firmly requested that any further claims be backed by credible analysis reports.

It is rare for a pop artist like Olivia Marsh to acknowledge plagiarism, with the last notable instance being in 2022 involving composer Yoo Hee-yeol and (G)I-DLE's Soyeon. Often, artists deny such allegations citing references or genre similarities. However, experts note that all music is influenced by past works, making it difficult to definitively label something as plagiarism without legal judgment.

Music industry experts argue, "Acknowledging similarities and sharing copyright should not be seen as a disgrace. An artist admitting to plagiarism should not be stigmatized as a 'plagiarist'." They emphasize that unintentional use of familiar compositions is common.

One expert suggests, "Artists should choose how to respond to plagiarism claims, but resolving issues through mutual agreement can prevent unnecessary energy expenditure."

By Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr