Beyoncé’s Label Argues Proper Licensing in ‘Alien Superstar’ Copyright Dispute
A motion filed by Parkwood Entertainment asserts that all necessary clearances were obtained for the sample used in Beyoncé’s 2022 hit, “Alien Superstar,” dismissing claims made in a recent copyright lawsuit.
Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s label and management company, filed a motion on Wednesday, December 17, seeking to dismiss a copyright lawsuit brought by indie label Soundmen on Wax Records. The lawsuit alleges improper use of a sample from the 1998 song “Moonraker” in the opening of “Alien Superstar,” which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The sampled lyrics, delivered as a spoken-word introduction, read: “Please do not be alarmed, remain calm/ Do not attempt to leave the dancefloor/ The DJ booth is conducting a troubleshoot of the entire system.”
According to court filings, Parkwood secured both a recording and composition license from John Holiday, the artist of “Moonraker,” for a payment of $10,000 and a 0.5% share of the “Alien Superstar” royalties. While it is acknowledged that a sample was cleared, the central dispute revolves around whether Holiday possessed the authority to grant that license.
Soundmen on Wax claims to have acquired the rights to “Moonraker” from Holiday in 1998 as part of a distribution agreement, asserting they should have been the party to clear the sample for Beyoncé’s track. However, Parkwood contends that it followed standard licensing procedures.
Lawyers from Latham & Watkins, representing Parkwood, argue that no documentation exists to substantiate Soundmen on Wax’s claim of ownership. “Without documentation, Parkwood says, it couldn’t have been expected to know about conflicting claims to the ‘Moonraker’ rights.” A statement from Parkwood’s legal team emphasized that “As plaintiff concedes, Parkwood obtained a master use and composition license for the relevant ‘Moonraker’ sample from Holiday. That good faith, nonexclusive license prevails over plaintiff’s alleged undocumented and undisclosed transfer, which was never recorded.”
Parkwood characterizes the lawsuit as “meritless” and believes it should be swiftly dismissed. Both Sony Music and Warner Chappell, also named as defendants in the suit, are supporting Parkwood’s motion. Notably, Beyoncé herself is not a defendant in this case.
The album Renaissance, released in August 2022, quickly rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and garnered attention for its extensive use of samples and interpolations. While some artists, such as “Show Me Love” singer Robin S, publicly celebrated their inclusion on the record, others, including “Milkshake” artist Kelis, expressed dissatisfaction.
These sampling practices have already triggered multiple legal challenges. In addition to the “Alien Superstar” dispute, a New Orleans-based group previously filed a lawsuit against Beyoncé over “Break My Soul,” alleging copyright infringement related to a sample of Big Freedia’s work. That particular suit, which centered on lyrical similarities to a 2002 track called “Release a Wiggle,” was quickly withdrawn.
