SM Entertainment Steals Songs… Or Transforms Them?

From “Mirotic” to “Dreams Come True,” from “Hot Summer” to “Next Level,” SM Entertainment has built a reputation for reworking songs from outside Korea and turning them into K-pop staples. But where’s the line between a cover, a sample, a demo… and plagiarism?In this episode, Chris and Chantel break down the legal and creative differences between covers, master vs. publishing rights, sampling, interpolation, and demo recordings - and why those distinctions matter more than most fans realize.We dive into SM’s history of licensed remakes, Western songwriting collaborations, and the company’s unique ability to transform existing material into something distinctly “SM.” Are these just copied songs… or carefully negotiated reinventions?

References:

• Dolly Parton - "I Will Always Love You" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0bEZH6ZqG4
• Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU
• Big Mama Thornton - "Hound Dog" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoHDrzw-RPg
• Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYWl13IWhY
• BTS - "As I Told You" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inNYQUC6dFs
• BLACKPINK - "So Hot" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIfzl96Gc0
• TWICE - "End of Time" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxQKaEGrQ38
• 4Minute - "Milkshake" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrGQBMkXa30
• MEOVV - “Abracadabra” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jlLUl8hKGY&pp=ygURbWVvdnYgYWJyYWNhZGFicmE%3D
• Dara - “Mr. Rover” MV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWlLGDvmEE&pp=ygUOZGFyYSBtci4gcm92ZXI%3D
• KAI - “Rover” MV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlTIextYnyQ&pp=ygUOZGFyYSBtci4gcm92ZXI%3D
• Medium.com "The Art of Clearing a Sample" article https://medium.com/the-courtroom/the-art-of-clearing-a-sample-deciding-if-its-worth-it-and-how-to-actually-do-e26fa56ad090
• Busta Rhymes - "Pass The Courvoisier Part II" feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ZUaxyPoZ8
• NCT U - "90's Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5H8zBb3iao
• Ke$ha - "Run Devil Run" (Demo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBjETYX1awQ
• Girls' Generation - "Run Devil Run" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_gfD3nvh-8
• 6ix9ine - "Nobody (Closer)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2AN35GVh3U&ab_channel=FunnyYoutubeEdits
• Winner - "Island" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRj4toENrnA
• Sarah Connor - "Under My Skin" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33FwMpiWsaA
• TVXQ! - "MIROTIC" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJS32n6LNQ
• A20 MAY - "UNDER MY SKIN" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GioJ0KPZADg&list=RDGioJ0KPZADg&start_radio=1&pp=ygUPYTIwIG1heSBtaXJvdGljoAcB
• Triple 8 - "Knockout" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czg3-Uw2dfM
• Super Junior - "Twins (Knock Out)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrazFGFRnhM
• Nylon Beat - "Like A Fool" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHwRoRB6u_0
• S.E.S. - "Dreams Come True" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uiR4SrDGZk
• aespa - "Dreams Come True" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69tJmsgd9I
• Monrose - "Hot Summer" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikgpaT5_XXY
• f(x) - "Hot Summer" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-rftpZ7kCY
• Phrased Differently - "Red Light" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tnDNr3gZcU
• f(x) - "Red Light" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv-8-EgPEY0
• Nathalie Makoma - "I Just Wanna Dance" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJGaOefn7nM
• Girls' Generation - "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SwiSpudKWI
• AWA - "Like I Do" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIa-MolAUQ
• BoA - "Better" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOxl2OIOVII
• A$ton Wyld - "Next Level" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTKm0mnZgp8
• aespa - "Next Level" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TWR90KJl84
• Duffy - "Mercy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ZEVA5dy-Y
• Girls' Generation - "Dancing Queen" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXZxc8GSXnI