From Adele to Coldplay: 7 Famous Musicians Accused of Plagiarism

Ever felt like a song sounded too familiar? You’re not alone. Turns out even chart-topping superstars like Adele and Coldplay aren’t immune to plagiarism accusations. With the music industry being one giant melting pot of creativity, it’s easy to see how some tunes can overlap.

Well, it often results in some pretty heated legal battles. From well-known hits to lesser-known tracks, these artists have faced some serious claims of copying—sometimes even without realizing it.

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of music plagiarism and take a look at seven famous musicians who’ve been accused of borrowing a little too much.

1. Adele

Adele’s 2015 song Million Years Ago caused a stir in Brazil. A composer named Toninho Geraes claimed Adele’s song copied his samba track Mulheres from 1995. A Brazilian judge took his side and ordered the song to be pulled from streaming platforms worldwide.

Sony and Universal, Adele’s labels, could face $8,000 fines (per Guardian) “per act of non-compliance.” The case isn’t over yet, and Adele’s team hasn’t commented much.

This isn’t the first time Adele has been accused of copying. In 2015, Turkish fans said Million Years Ago sounded like a song by Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya called Acilara Tutunmak. It was perceived that Adele did not do it intentionally, but the similarities raised eyebrows.

2. Coldplay

Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was a huge hit, but it also landed them in legal trouble. According to Entertainment Weekly, Guitarist Joe Satriani claimed the song sounded just like his track If I Could Fly. The case ended in a quiet settlement in 2009, so we don’t know what went on behind closed doors.

To make things even messier, Cat Stevens aka Yusuf also thought the song was too similar to his Foreigner Suite. But he decided to sit back and see how Satriani’s case played out before making a move. When Satriani wrapped things up, Islam decided to drop it altogether.

3. Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey’s song Get Free had a vibe that reminded people of Radiohead’s Creep. Radiohead’s team claimed Del Rey’s track copied their classic and demanded 100% of its publishing rights.

The songstress admitted there were similarities but said it wasn’t intentional. She even offered Radiohead’s team 40% of the song’s earnings, but they wanted more.

The case didn’t make it to court, and the star later joked during a concert (via BBC), “Now that my lawsuit’s over, I guess I can sing that song any time I want, right?” At least Del Rey got to keep performing her song—and cracked a joke or two about the whole ordeal.

4. Madonna

Madonna’s song Frozen faced serious issues in Belgium. In 2005, songwriter Salvatore Acquaviva accused Madonna of copying his song Ma Vie Fout le Camp. A judge agreed and banned Frozen from being played in Belgium (per Billboard), saying:

Madonna must withdraw from sales all remaining discs, and orders that [Belgian] TV and radio can no longer play ‘Frozen.’

Years later, another artist claimed both songs copied their work. After lots of back-and-forth, the court decided that none of the songs were original enough to be considered stolen. This bizarre case ended with Madonna’s ban being lifted.

5. Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran found himself in hot water when the family of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer, claimed his hit Thinking Out Loud borrowed a bit too much from the classic, Let’s Get It On. Kathryn Griffin Townsend, Townsend’s daughter, and her family were not about to let this slide.

The Townsend crew teamed up with civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who didn’t hold back. According to PEOPLE, he called it a case of “giving credit where credit is due.”

Sheeran defended himself in court, even playing guitar to show how common the song’s chord progression is. After a lot of drama, the jury ruled in his favor. Case closed, and Sheeran walked away with his reputation—and his chords—intact.

6. Dolly Parton

In 1980, Dolly Parton made her big-screen debut in 9 to 5, delivering not just an iconic performance but also the film’s unforgettable title track. The song was a hit, even earning her an Oscar nomination. But along with the fame came an unexpected storm of legal drama.

A couple, Neil and Jan Goldberg, slapped Parton with a $1 million lawsuit, accusing her of ripping off their song, Money World. They claimed she got her hands on it through her co-star, Jane Fonda.

Parton was heartbroken by the accusation. “So degrading,” she said in Ladies’ Home Journal, calling it one of the toughest experiences of her career (per Showbiz Cheatsheet). “It damaged my reputation … there’ll always be people who think I’d stoop so low.”

She tried out of court settlement, but the Goldbergs pushed for a trial. In the end, the jury ruled in her favor. However, the accusations hurt her deeply. She called it one of the most painful experiences of her career.

7. Sam Smith

Sam Smith’s breakout hit Stay With Me had everyone singing along, but not everyone was a fan—especially Tom Petty. Petty and Jeff Lynne, who co-wrote I Won’t Back Down, felt Smith’s track sounded way too similar to theirs.

But Petty didn’t hold a grudge. He didn’t think Smith was trying to steal anything. Instead, Petty chalked it up to what he called “subconscious plagiarism.” In a statement, Petty said (per USA TODAY):

I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door, but in this case, it got by.

Instead of going to court, the two sides settled. Petty made it clear there was no malice, just a musical accident. In the end, the matter never went to trial. Instead, Petty and Lynne were credited with 12.5% of the songwriting for Stay with Me, keeping things civil and resolving the issue without any drama.