NewJeans embroiled in plagiarism allegations over their song ‘Bubble Gum’

2024 has been a rollercoaster ride for NewJeans– riding on their success from their first year, battling negative publicity from the feud of ADOR and HYBE, and releasing music when people thought that they wouldn’t.

Now, another issue has surfaced against NewJeans—plagiarism allegations regarding one of their most recent releases, “Bubble Gum.”

English jazz-funk band Shakatak claimed that NewJeans had allegedly copied their 1981 song “Easier Said Than Done,” with Wise Music Group (the copyright holder of the song) sending a letter to ADOR, HYBE Labels, the Korea Music Copyright Association (KMCA), Sony Music Publishing, and more on June 17, 2024.

In the letter, Wise Music Group said that NewJeans’ “Bubble Gum” had used identical rhythms, melodies, and tempos to Shakatak’s “Easier Said Than Done.”

This was refuted by ADOR, with the agency stating that their legal team had responded to Wise Music Group on behalf of the writers of “Bubble Gum” by saying that they did not “unlawfully use Shakatak’s composition” and requested that they give a credible analysis report.

“The burden of proof lies with the accuser, and Shakatak needs to provide a report to substantiate their plagiarism claims,” said the official from ADOR. They later added that Shakatak had agreed to doing this but have not yet given it—until recently.

On July 19, 2024, Shakatak posted on their social media saying that they had employed a musicologist to analyze the two songs and see if “Bubble Gum” really was copyright infringed.

This drew in mixed reactions from fans and the public alike—with fans directing their hate on Shakatak, while the public is criticizing the fandom’s reactions to it.

 

With the musicologist’s analysis still pending, the debate over the similarity between the songs continues.

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