Ed Sheeran has voiced his intention to quit music if his ongoing copyright suit doesn’t favor him.
The singer was accused of copying parts of Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On” song to make his hit track “Thinking Out Loud,” which he has vehemently denied and described as “insulting.”
During the ongoing trial, it was pointed out that both songs possessed many similarities in their melody and chords. However, Sheeran claimed that it did not confirm that he was guilty of the allegations.
Keep on reading to learn more.
‘If That Happens, I’m Done’
Sheeran is currently embroiled in a copyright lawsuit filed against him by the family of Marvin Gaye’s songwriting collaborator, Ed Townsend. The suit claims that the “Shape of You” singer copied the late icon’s “Let’s Get It On” song for his hit single “Thinking Out Loud.”
While Sheeran has since vehemently denied those allegations, he shared as he took the stand in Manhattan federal court on Monday that he plans on hanging up his music boots if the jury gives a guilty verdict.
He also called the claims that he infringed upon Gaye and his co-writer Ed Townsend’s classic “insulting” to his efforts and dedication to pursuing a music career.
“If that happens, I’m done; I’m stopping,” Sheeran said on the stand about his feelings on the ongoing trial, per Daily Mail. “I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”
Ed Sheeran Denies Ripping Of Marvin Gaye’s Song
During the trial on Monday, Sheeran also refuted the exhibit submitted the previous week by lawyers for Townsend’s heirs.
The said exhibit was a video of Sheeran transitioning seamlessly between the two songs in question during a show, which the lawyers claimed proved he committed what he was accused of.
In his defense, Sheeran pointed out while being cross-examined that he had often combined “Thinking Out Loud” with Van Morrison’s “Crazy in Love” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
He shared that “many songs have similar chords,” which made it easy to mash them up for his many gigs, but that doesn’t mean he ripped off any of them.
He added, “If I’d done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
Ed Sheeran Slams Plaintiff’s Expert Witness
Another exhibit Sheeran claimed was false was that of the plaintiff’s expert witness, musicologist Alexander Stewart.
Stewart had argued the previous week that “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” had the same harmonic rhythm and seemingly pointed out melodic similarities in parts of the songs.
However, Sheeran refuted his claim, saying Stewart had made some changes to the chords and melody of “Thinking Out Loud” when he played it in court so that it looked like Gaye’s song. He then questioned the expertise of Stewart for allegedly trying to make things suit his own narrative.
“If I have to be honest, what he’s doing here is criminal,” Sheeran said. “I don’t know why he’s allowed to be an expert.'”
The plaintiff is reportedly seeking $ 100 million in restitution, which would be determined in a second case if the jury finds Sheeran guilty.
Ed Sheeran Won A Copyright Battle For ‘Shape of You’
In the meantime, it is still uncertain who will come out on top in the suit, as both parties have records of winning copyright suits.
Last year, Sheeran won a U.K. copyright battle that claimed he copied parts of 2015’s “Oh Why” by Sami Chokri for his 2017 hit “Shape of You,” per CBC.
After winning the suit, the British pop star then voiced his unhappiness over the “culture of baseless lawsuits intended to squeeze money out of artists eager to avoid the expense of a trial.”
Meanwhile, in 2015, Gaye’s family won a lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, claiming they ripped off the icon’s song “Got to Give It Up” for their hit, “Blurred Lines.”
The family was awarded damages up to the tune of approximately 7.4 million dollars, per ABC News.
