music

Rapid Response Protest Songs: Artists Who Write and Release Political Music Within Days of Current Events

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SUMMARY Bruce Springsteen’s rapid-release protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” continues a tradition of artists responding instantly to current events. Billy Bragg and indie songwriter Jesse Welles have released similar quick-turnaround political tracks, while historical examples include Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio” and Iran’s Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye.” Modern technology now lets musicians strike while emotional … Read more

All Mariah Carey Wanted for Christmas Was for You to Stop Suing Her

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The holiday season brought an early gift for Mariah Carey as she successfully defended against a copyright infringement lawsuit that threatened one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time. The case serves as an important reminder for practitioners about the stringent requirements for proving musical copyright infringement and the risks of pursuing weak … Read more

Free Tom Lehrer!

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Tom Lehrer, the 92-year old musical satirist (and inventor of the jello shot), has released all of the lyrics to his musical works into the public domain. In the absence of this release, his words would have remained copyrighted until at least 70 years after his death. Head over to Professor Lehrer’s site for the … Read more