Kanye West’s latest controversy? Ripping off prog-rock legends King Crimson.
West’s label, Universal Music Group, is being sued for unpaid streaming royalties from the 2010 single “Power” – which samples King Crimson’s 1969 hit “21st Century Schizoid Man”.
The suit alleges that according to the deal struck by Universal, streaming royalties should be paid at the same rate as physical CD sales, verus the lower rate paid out for digital streams. King Crimson founder Robert Fripp has repeatedly criticized Universal Music Group for what he says is unauthorized use of Crimson’s music.
How much credit should the original artist get when their music is sampled by a newer song?