Seoul: BTS’ agency, Big Hit Music, has denied allegations that the group’s latest song Swim infringes on the copyright of an earlier track by three American songwriters. The company said the accusations are based solely on the plaintiffs’ claims and maintained that the song was created independently.
The controversy follows a lawsuit filed by songwriters Steve Cooper, John Sandler and Graylyn Johnson, who claim that BTS’ Swim, the lead single from the group’s fifth studio album Arirang, bears significant similarities to a demo they had previously written under the same title.
According to reports, the lawsuit names HYBE, HYBE America and Big Hit Music as defendants. It also includes several songwriters credited on Swim, including OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder. BTS members have not been named in the lawsuit, although RM is credited as one of the song’s co-writers.
In an official statement released on July 10, Big Hit Music rejected the allegations and reiterated that Swim was independently produced. The agency stated that it would take legal action to protect its rights and challenge the claims through the appropriate legal process.
The plaintiffs allege that their demo had been circulated among music industry professionals from March last year and eventually reached some of the writers who later worked on Swim. They argue that this created an opportunity for the song to be copied.
To support their case, the songwriters appointed musicologist Alexander Stewart to compare the two tracks. According to the lawsuit, Stewart identified similarities in the chorus hook, repeated use of the title, harmony, rhythm, texture and lyrical themes. Based on his analysis, he concluded that the similarities suggested the BTS track was derivative rather than an original composition.
Stewart has previously served as an expert witness in several high-profile copyright disputes involving artists such as Ed Sheeran and Led Zeppelin. Those cases were ultimately dismissed by the courts.
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and no court has ruled on the merits of the allegations. Big Hit Music has made it clear that it intends to vigorously contest the claims as legal proceedings move forward.
Conclusion
The copyright dispute over Swim is likely to attract significant attention given BTS’ global popularity. While the plaintiffs argue that the song borrows key musical elements from their demo, Big Hit Music has firmly denied the allegations and is preparing to defend the track in court.
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