The music producer Greg Kurstin and the English singer-songwriter Adele have been accused of plagiarism. Brazilian singer-songwriter Toninho Geraes, who has written hits for Zeca Pagodinho, Diogo Nogueira, and Martinho da Vila, among others, claims that the producer and the British singer copied almost entirely the melody of his song “Mulheres” (recorded by Martinho da Vila in 1995) in the single “Million Years Ago,” which was released in 2015 and was part of Adele’s album 25.
A court in Rio de Janeiro has prohibited the reproduction, distribution, and commercialization of Adele’s “Million Years Ago.” The decision, issued by Judge Victor Torres of the 6th Business Court of Rio, imposes a fine of R$50,000 (approximately $10,000 USD) for any violation of the ruling. Streaming platforms such as Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube have also been notified to remove Adele’s song from their catalogs globally, with possible criminal charges in case of non-compliance.
Although the plagiarism claim has not yet been fully proven, the judge noted “strong evidence of almost complete melodic consonance” between “Million Years Ago” and “Mulheres.” The evidence analyzed included comparisons of sheet music and waveforms of the tracks, which experts described as exhibiting “unmistakable symmetry.” Both lay observers and the judge himself listened to the two songs and identified significant similarities.
The case against Adele is bolstered by the fact that Greg Kurstin openly identifies as a scholar and admirer of Brazilian music, including samba. This connection, according to the court, adds credibility to the claim that Kurstin could have been aware of Geraes’ composition.
The decision is provisional, issued as part of an ongoing lawsuit initiated in February. Geraes’ legal team, represented by Fredímio Biasotto Trotta and Deborah Sztajnberg, is seeking additional claims, including proper songwriting credits, damages of R$200,000, and a share of the royalties generated by Adele’s music over the past nine years.
So far, only Sony and Universal, which have representation in Brazil, have responded. Sony denies involvement in the production, while Universal contests the plagiarism accusation. Adele, Kurstin, and XL Recordings (Beggars Group) have not yet formally responded.
Source: El Pais