The music industry took center stage last month when musicians Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were ordered by a Los Angeles federal jury to pay $7.4 million to the children of musician Marvin Gaye. According to the lawsuit, Williams and Thicke copied the 1977 Gaye hit titled “Got To Give It Up” to create their song “Blurred Lines” – one of the biggest hits of 2013.
Musicians and critics have reacted to the verdict by arguing that copyright laws need to be updated. In this Knowledge in 5 podcast, University of Pennsylvania Law School professor Polk Wagner and Tom Moon, author of the book 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die, talked with Knowledge at Wharton radio show host Dan Loney about the case and its implications for the music industry. The Knowledge at Wharton show airs 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday on Wharton Business Radio on SiriusXM channel 111.
