Beyoncé’s song Break My Soul accused of copyright infringement

Singer Beyoncé has been accused of copyright infringement in a new lawsuit targeting her US No. 1 hit ‘Break My Soul’.

Famous singer Beyoncé was recently embroiled in a plagiarism scandal when New Orleans group Da Showstoppaz accused their hit ‘Break My Soul’ of infringing on the copyright of the song ‘Release a Wiggle’.

Da Showstoppaz members Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark filed a lawsuit in Louisiana federal court this week, saying the lead track on Beyoncé’s 2022 studio album Renaissance used a sample from the 2014 song “Explode” by artist Big Freedia, a leading figure in bounce music, a subgenre of New Orleans dance and hip-hop music.

Meanwhile, the song ‘Explode’ was confirmed by Da Showstoppaz to have used the lyrics and melody as well as musical arrangements from the group’s song ‘Release a Wiggle’.

The complaint also claims that Big Freedia knowingly used the actual words, melody, and musical arrangement of ‘Release A Wiggle’ in the recording of ‘Explode’, which was then used on the master recording of ‘Break My Soul’. As such, Da Showstoppaz should receive fair compensation from both Big Freedia and singer Beyoncé.

Admittedly, Da Showstoppaz’s music is hard to find on Spotify and similar sites, although a version of “Release a Wiggle” does seem to exist on YouTube.

Along with Beyoncé and Big Freedia (also known as Freddie Ross Jr), Jay-Z, Sony Music and other management companies have been named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit further alleges that while Beyoncé, Big Freedia and others have benefited financially from the song, Da Showstoppaz has not received similar compensation. “Ms. Carter, Big Freedia, Parkwood, Sony and others have received significant awards and profits from ‘Explode’ and ‘Break My Soul’ as well as Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, ‘Renaissance World Tour’ and Renaissance: A Film, Da Showstoppaz’s have received nothing – no acknowledgement, no profits, or any form of compensation,” the lawsuit reads.

The members of Da Showstoppaz are asking for a jury trial, admitting that their work was used without attribution and was paid royalties by the creators of “Break My Soul,” “Explode,” the studio album Renaissance and Beyoncé’s concert film of the same name.

The band also claims compensation as well as royalties for future licensing of the songs