Songwriter Jon Hume has launched a lawsuit against media giant Universal Music Group over the Aussie smash hit tune Be Alright by Dean Lewis.
Hume, 40, who was born in Australian and later rose to fame in the Kiwi band Evermore, co-wrote the song which topped charts around the world in 2018.
His suit claims that portions of an original recording he made of the song before it was recorded by Lewis, 36, were used in the final release without his knowledge or permission.
He filed the legal action in Nashville, U.S. on June 19 against UMG, reported The Courier Mail on Wednesday.
Hume, who co-wrote the song with Lewis, produced what is known as a ‘demo’ [or demonstration] recording of the pop ballad.
The musician who divides his time between Los Angeles and Nashville, said in his suit that he played all the instruments on the demo and was told at the time it would not be used in the final recording.
Hume now alleges that he learned in December that his recording formed part of the hit version of the song.
He is now seeking damages including ‘statutory’ damages, compensatory damages reasonable attorneys’ fees, and costs from [UMG] for using his work ‘without permission’ reported the publication.
Songwriter Jon Hume has launched a lawsuit against media giant Universal Music Group over the Aussie smash hit tune Be Alright by Dean Lewis. Hume, 40, (pictured) co-wrote the song which topped charts around the world in 2018
Universal Music Australia told the publication they had ‘no comment’ about the lawsuit.
Be Alright was a massive global hit and topped the ARIA chart in Australia and was top 30 hit smash in the U.S. and reached the top 20 in the U.K.
It was also a number one hit in Belgium, the Czech Republic and Singapore.
Hume’s suit claims that portions of an original recording he made of the song before it was recorded by Lewis, 36, were used in the final release without his knowledge or permission. Pictured: Dean Lewis on stage in the U.S. in May
Known as a producer and a songwriter, Hume penned the 2019 hit Purple Hat for Sofi Tukker, and wrote and produced the 2020 U.K. smash Dead Celebrities by Easy Life.
After Be Alright Hume continued to work with Lewis and co-wrote the Aussie performers 2022 hits How Do I Say Goodbye and Hurtless.
It comes ahead of Lewis’s forthcoming third studio album, The Epilogue, on which Hume produced the tune Hume Memories.
Hume filed the legal action in Nashville, U.S. on June 19 against UMG reported The Courier Mail on Wednesday. Pictured: Hume fronting Evermore in Melbourne in 2009
The hitmaker will tour Australia with Daniel Seavey as his the support act on Lewis’s upcoming national tour.
This marks a significant milestone for the 25-year-old, who first rose to fame as a member of the boy band Why Don’t We following his stint on American Idol.
Daniel will join Lewis on a seven-date tour across Australia kicking off on October 30, at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle.
Tickets for the Dean Lewis Epilogue tour are on sale here.
