Viral Sensation "Selos” by Shaira Back on Streaming Platforms After Copyright Issue

• Selos by Shaira is now back on streaming platforms after being taken down due to copyright claims from Australian singer/songwriter Lenka, alongside her team. 

• The song borrows melody from Lenka's 2008 song entitled "Trouble Is a Friend” and was called out by netizens.  

• With the agreement between both parties, Lenka is now tagged as the composer for "Selos.”   
  

Image: From Instagram/@lenkamusic

On April 9, 2024, PhilStar published an article stating that "Selos” by Shaira will be back on all music streaming platforms following the settlement of their copyright dispute. This arose online when netizens brought up the similarities of said song to Lenka's 2008 piece, "Trouble Is a Friend” to which she, alongside her team, responded by pursuing legal action. This prompted Shaira, and her agency AHS Productions, to temporarily remove the song, which garnered unprecedented virality over social media. Both parties agree that "Selos" borrows the melody of "Trouble is A Friend”. The dealings of both parties resulted in the swift upload of "Selos” back on streaming platforms and confirmation of "smooth” transactions between both camps. 

 To read more about the full story of Shaira's "Selos,” view PhilStar’s full story titled: “'Selos' by Shaira Returning to Streaming After Lenka Opts Not To File Case” 

Music Licensing as Protection of Artists and their Craft 

Securing the proper Music License is essential in crediting the rightful owners of compositions and recordings, giving credit to where credit is due. In this case, a mechanical license was required due to the fact that AHS and Shaira admitted that they used "Trouble Is a Friend” to create “Selos”. Given the conclusion and agreement between both parties, as of this writing, the credited composer/s of the newly uploaded song in Spotify are Lenka Kripac and Thomas Salters while Shaira remained to be the performer.

Image: Screengrab from Spotify / Selos by Shaira 

To learn more about music copyright, contact PRM through info@prm.com.ph.