Adele's 'Million Years Ago' pulled for plagiarism claims
A Brazilian court has ordered Adele's song "Million Years Ago" removed from all radio stations and streaming platforms worldwide, ruling that it plagiarises the work of Brazilian artist Toninho Geraes.
According to The Guardian and The Times reports, the 62-year-old singer and songwriter Toninho Geraes claims that Adele's 2015 song "Million Years Ago" copies his 1996 classic, "Mulheres," by Martinho da Vila. Judge Victor Torres from Rio de Janeiro issued a preliminary injunction requiring Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to immediately and globally cease the use, reproduction, editing, distribution, or commercialisation of the song "Million Years Ago" in any form, on physical or digital media, via streaming platforms.
The plagiarism case was first filed in 2021. Brazilian branches of Adele's label may be fined €7,200 for each order violation. Geraes' lawyer, Fredimio Trotta, described the decision as a milestone for Brazilian music, which has often been copied to create international hits. "It is a landmark for Brazilian music, which has often been copied to compose successful international hits," he said.
Toninho Geraes is seeking compensation for lost royalties, €157,500 in damages, and recognition of his authorship in Adele's song. It is worth noting that fans in Turkey had previously accused "Million Years Ago" of plagiarising the 1985 song "Acilara Tutunmak," performed by Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya.
