ADOR rejects plagiarism claims by British band Shakatak; defends NewJeans' song Bubble Gum - read statement

ADOR rejects plagiarism claims by British band Shakatak; defends NewJeans' song Bubble Gum

Recently, a British band named Shakatak accused NewJeans of plagiarising their song Easier Said Than Done for NewJeans' track Bubble Gum. In response to these allegations, ADOR, the agency representing NewJeans, issued a detailed statement on Instagram firmly rejecting all claims of plagiarism.

In the statement, ADOR began by expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support and celebrating NewJeans' second debut anniversary. The agency then addressed the plagiarism claims directly, providing a timeline and clear distinctions between the two songs in question.

ADOR clarified that Bubble Gum’s music video was released on April 26, and almost a month later, they received an email through HYBE’s UK Wise Music Group pointing out alleged similarities between Bubble Gum and Shakatak's Easier Said Than Done. In response, the writers of Bubble Gum noted that they had never heard of Shakatak's song before the allegations, making it impossible for them to have copied it.

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The agency also highlighted that around the same time, the media started reporting on the plagiarism claim during the HYBE vs ADOR controversy. To ensure thoroughness, ADOR sought the expertise of two overseas musicologists to analyse the situation.

On June 17, ADOR received a mail from Shakatak’s legal representative, to which they responded by asserting that they did not plagiarise the song and requested a detailed report to substantiate Shakatak's claims.

ADOR's statement emphasised the distinct differences between Bubble Gum and Easier Said Than Done. They pointed out that the two songs have different chord progressions, beats per minute (bpm), and overall atmospheres. The agency argued that the plagiarism claims were unfounded, focusing on the melody's similarity, which they deemed insufficient for a plagiarism accusation. ADOR noted that the melody in question is a common pop melody that has been used in various songs even before Shakatak’s release.

ADOR also expressed doubts about HYBE's handling of the plagiarism matter. They criticised HYBE for not addressing the NewJeans plagiarism complaint promptly and involving unnecessary parties, which led to unfavourable media coverage. ADOR pointed out that HYBE was passive in minimising negative press and requested a more proactive approach to handle the issue.

To tackle the situation effectively, ADOR revealed that they have appointed a personal legal team to address the plagiarism allegations and are actively working to monitor and report all malicious comments online.