NewJeans Denies “How Sweet” Plagiarism Allegations

NewJeans and agency ADOR are pushing back strongly against allegations surrounding the NewJeans How Sweet plagiarism lawsuit following a copyright complaint filed in the United States.

On May 9, ADOR released an official statement denying all accusations related to the group’s 2024 song “How Sweet.”

The agency stated that it had confirmed with BANA—the team responsible for composing and producing the track—that no plagiarism had occurred. ADOR added that both the company and the members plan to actively fight the lawsuit based on BANA’s position.

U.S. Songwriters Claim Similarities to Demo Track

The statement came after reports published by Billboard on May 8 revealed that four songwriters, including Audrey Amacoast, had filed a lawsuit accusing “How Sweet” of copying elements from their demo song “One of a Kind.”

According to the complaint, the writers are seeking a share of royalties generated by the track, alleging that portions of the song were used without proper licensing or compensation.

The lawsuit claims that Audrey Amacoast received an instrumental track through a publisher in January 2024 and was asked to develop topline lyrics and melodies for consideration as a potential NewJeans release.

Amacoast and three collaborators reportedly completed writing and recording “One of a Kind,” but the song was ultimately rejected during the final selection process.

Technical Music Analysis Included in Complaint

The plaintiffs argue that “How Sweet,” released approximately four months later, contains substantial similarities to their demo—particularly in the first verse.

According to details cited in the filing, both songs allegedly share:

• A 4/4 time signature
• The key of B-flat minor
• An approximately eight-measure melodic structure
• A topline melody sequence consisting of 311 notes

The lawsuit claims these similarities are both “quantitatively and qualitatively substantial.”

Released in May 2024, “How Sweet” became one of NewJeans’ most successful global releases. The song reached No. 18 on the Billboard Global 200 and climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

The plaintiffs now argue that the commercial success of the song was achieved using elements derived from their original demo work without authorization.

ADOR Signals Aggressive Legal Defense

Despite the growing attention surrounding the case, ADOR maintains that the allegations are entirely unfounded.

The agency emphasized that both NewJeans and BANA intend to respond aggressively through legal channels, suggesting the dispute may develop into a lengthy copyright battle involving music composition analysis and royalty claims.

The lawsuit arrives during an already turbulent period for NewJeans, as the group continues navigating legal and contractual disputes tied to its activities and future direction.

As scrutiny intensifies, the industry is closely watching how the high-profile case could impact both NewJeans’ global reputation and broader discussions surrounding songwriting credits and production practices in K-pop.