Highlights
- Four US songwriters have filed a lawsuit against HYBE, ADOR, and NewJeans, alleging that the group’s song How Sweet copied parts of their rejected demo.
- The lawsuit claims both songs have similar melody structures, while ADOR has denied all allegations associated with the track.
- The case adds to NewJeans’ ongoing turmoil of a lineup fracture after the HYBE–Min Hee-jin case and earlier accusations of plagiarism against another NewJeans song.
In the highly competitive K-pop ecosystem nowadays, legal liability seems only a few notes away, as issues regarding a NewJeans song freshly surfaced on Friday (May 8, 2026). Four songwriters named Audrey Armacost, Aidan Rodriguez, Adam Gokcebay, and Michael Campanelli have reportedly filed a lawsuit in the US against HYBE, its subsidiary ADOR, and the group’s members, claiming that the group’s 2024 hit How Sweet was built on the tunes of a rejected demo.
Songwriters Allege Melody Similarities in ‘How Sweet’
As reported by Billboard and The Korea Herald, the issue first surfaced in January 2024, when the plaintiffs were reportedly invited to submit a topline melody and accompanying lyrics for the group. The final song title One of a Kind was ultimately rejected by the agency; nevertheless, the lawsuit claims that when How Sweet was released four months after the incident, the uncanniness was almost impossible to ignore. The legal complaint provided a detailed breakdown of the alleged IP misappropriation, noting that both songs use a 4/4 meter in the key of B-flat minor and share an “approximately eight-bar, 31-note melodic sequence” in their first verse.
ADOR Rejects Claims as Lawsuit Seeks Profit Share
However, ADOR has provided a very swift and categorical defense. Citing BANA, the production house which looked after the song development, the agency retains its stance of not copying any form of material. Despite the comment, the attorney of the plaintiffs, Trevor Barrett, said that the songwriters “were deeply disappointed to discover this blatant copying of their original song,” and are seeking their pro rata share of the profits from a successful song that peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. The issue, according to Barrett, demands vindication.
Lawsuit Adds to NewJeans’ Ongoing Turmoil
The lawsuit arrives at a moment when NewJeans itself is struggling with profound internal fragility. The group is still suffering from a protracted legal war between HYBE and ex-ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Although Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein have resumed their roles under the label, Minji remains in the midst of "positive" but unresolved contract negotiations. On the other hand, Danielle has already been dropped from the group, leaving the group with a fractured lineup.
Yet, this is not the first time that NewJeans have faced such issues. Previously, the British band Shakatak claimed that the group’s single Bubble Gum infringed upon their song Easier Said Than Done, which was released in 1981. As the group recalibrates slowly, while also navigating plagiarism shadow, the court’s verdict will ultimately decide if How Sweet was a creative product or a systematic failure of the songwriting process.
