Singer G.E.M., also known as Gloria Tang, recently re-recorded some of her classic songs and released them as an album titled “I AM GLORIA.” However, her former record label Bird Music issued a statement today claiming that she had infringed on their copyright and demanded the new album be taken down. In response, G.E.M. provided evidence of her copyright and addressed the accusations.
G.E.M. announced on social media on the 12th that she would be re-recording her old songs for the album. She also shed light on a long-standing copyright dispute spanning over 6 years with her former record label Bird Music, stating, “Who would have thought that I haven’t received royalties for my old songs for over 6 years since signing with Bird Music at the age of 15?”
It wasn’t until 2023, when experts joined her legal team, that there was a breakthrough. It was discovered that G.E.M. had the right to re-record her old works. She successfully re-recorded her past works and the album “I AM GLORIA” is now available online.
Bird Music, G.E.M.’s former label, issued a stern statement today regarding the release of her re-recorded album, claiming ownership of the recording producer rights and lyric and music composition rights of the songs she re-recorded (excluding “Limitless Skies,” “Love You to Death,” and “Light Years Away”). They stated that on various global copyright registration platforms and domestic music streaming platforms, the relevant rights holders are clearly marked as Bird Music Limited Company.
The statement pointed out that G.E.M.’s release of the re-recorded versions on major online music platforms raises legal issues related to “reproduction rights and adaptation rights infringement” and “information network dissemination rights infringement.”
Bird Music demanded that G.E.M.’s team remove all infringing content distributed through various channels within 48 hours, and that the involved re-recorded songs be immediately taken down from all music platforms. They also stated that they reserved the right to pursue legal actions against any individual or entity engaging in commercial use of the infringing works.
However, with the contractual dispute between the two parties unresolved after 6 years of litigation, faced with Bird Music’s strong statement, G.E.M. presented her copyright evidence and wrote in response that the legal basis for this re-recording is very solid. The re-recording was done in strict compliance with regulations, and she has paid royalties in accordance with the law. Furthermore, the broadcasting rights for all her works have been managed by the CASH association since she was 14 years old (before joining Bird Music), so these re-recorded versions have been globally released legally.
In response to Bird Music’s demand to take down the re-recorded songs, G.E.M. stated firmly, “I will not take down the songs.” Regarding the “legal bottom line” and “contractual spirit” mentioned in Bird Music’s statement, she expressed her hope that Bird Music could first settle the legal royalties due to her accumulated over the 6 years and 8 months from October 2018 to the present, as well as the legitimate service fees unpaid in the last 6 months before terminating the contract in 2019.