Sony Music Sues Kroger in Latest Lawsuit Over Songs on Social Media: ‘Rampant Infringement’
The label claims the grocery chain used music by Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson and Outkast in social media advertisements — the latest in a flood of such cases.
Sony Music has filed a lawsuit against Kroger, alleging the grocery chain used numerous songs by popular artists such as Harry Styles, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, and SZA without permission in their TikTok and Instagram posts. This is not the first time major labels have taken legal action against commercial brands using music in social media posts.
Marriott, Chili's, and various NBA teams have all faced lawsuits, with more companies settling privately. According to Sony, Kroger posted nearly 400 unauthorized uses of their music, including tracks by Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Prince, Pitbull, and The White Stripes. The lawsuit claims that Kroger posted these songs on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, exploiting the popularity of the artists' music for commercial gain.
Sony argues that the company had previously entered into contracts with Sony Music to include their recordings in their advertisements, indicating they were aware of the need to pay for such usage. Specific examples cited in the lawsuit include Instagram posts featuring watermelons set to Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar" and holiday cocktail recipes promoted with Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Sony's lawyers state that the choice of music was calculated, as the songs often have cultural and seasonal associations that enhance product sales.
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