Whose Song Is It Anyway?

Hayleigh Bosher
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The podcast that acts as your guide to understanding the big legal questions shaping the music and creative industries right now. Each bitesized episode dives into real, current case studies – from viral sampling disputes and interpolation to AI-generated tracks – and your host Dr Hayleigh Bosher will unpack everything into clear, jargon-free insights. Hosted by a razor sharp lawyer with impeccable style and winning charm, the show blends authority with wit, turning complex copyright law into something you never knew could be so riveting. She knows her stuff and tells it straight.

  1. 6h ago

    Inspiration or Theft?

    What is the difference between taking inspiration and copying? In this episode I deep dive into the test forcopyright infringement by talking you through the story of the Ed Sheeran v Sami Switch case, over the songs Shape of You and Oh Why. Plus stories of copyingdisputes in photography and fashion. I also answer: Can I get sued for makingmusic that sounds like someone else’s? What is the legal test for copyright infringement?   IN THIS EPISODE 00:35 Why Ed Sheeran records hissongwriting sessions: starting from the Blurred Lines case with PharrellWilliams which was all about money not about music 02:44 Sami Switch claimed EdSheeran claiming his song Oh Why was copied by Ed in Shape of You, but Ed’steam filed the lawsuit 05:49 The arguments set out bySami Switch’s and Ed Sheeran’s teams in the case for copyright infringement 08:00 A plot twist: similar factevidence, does previous settled disputes show a pattern of behaviour? Bothsides of the story. 12:36 Can I get sued for makingmusic that sounds like someone else’s? 14:22 Two stories of copying claims,one of a photographer and another of a fashion designer, and what we can learnfrom them. 17:03 What is the legal test forcopyright infringement? 24:14 What’s the difference betweeninspiration and copying? 27:12 The outcome of the EdSheeran trial. 30:02 The similar fact evidence plottwist revealed.     MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ·      Sami Switch Oh Why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeH-ObndT7M ·      Ed Sheeran Shape of You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGwWNGJdvx8 ·      Ed Sheeran interview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61026308 ·      A Copyright playlist I made for you, links to Appleand Spotify here: https://www.hayleighbosher.com/book-copyright-in-the-music-industry FIND DR HAYLEIGH BOSHER• Instagram: ⁠@hayleigh.bosher⁠• Website: ⁠ https://www.hayleighbosher.com/ LOVE THIS EPISODE?• Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts• Leave a 5⭐ review, it helps more people find the showCREDITSWhose Song Is It Anyway? is produced by Good FormFunded by The British Academy DISCLAIMERNothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. It is legal education to help you learn more about your rights.

  2. Aug 6

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

    Even in the height of 90s contracts, the Spice Girls still made some smart choices there are benefiting from today. In this episode, hear about how they did this, and why is Spice World not on your streaming service… yet?! I also answer: What's a split sheet, why do I need one? And one of the most common questions I get asked in the industry: How do we decide the split? Plus, what does 'joint ownership' of a copyright mean and how it’s all really just about healthy boundaries, including what we can learn from the stories behind the joint ownership disputes around the film script for Florence Foster Jenkins and Lizzo’s Truth Hurts. And, what happens if my collaborator and I can't agree on the split? IN THIS EPISODE: 00:45 How did the Spice Girlscrack the code to avoid a band break up over money? 02:28 Why is Spice World not onyour streaming service… yet?! 03:10 What's a split sheet andwhy do I need one? 07:07 how do you decide who getswhat? 09:48 What does 'jointownership' of a copyright mean? 12:00 The legal criteria for jointownership under UK Law 13:13 The story behind the jointownership of the film script for Florence Foster Jenkins 16:28 What happens if mycollaborator and I can't agree on the split? 17:55 What if I alreadycollaborated by we didn’t do a split sheet or agreement? 18:40 The story behind the jointownership dispute with Lizzo and her song Truth Hurts, and how it could havebeen avoided.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE • Buy your copy of Copyright in the Music Industry (second edition, 2026) -⁠ https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/copyright-in-the-music-industry-9781035330386.html⁠ • Musicians' Union Split Sheet https://musiciansunion.org.uk/legal-money/contracts-and-agreements/standard-contracts/song-share-agreement FIND DR HAYLEIGH BOSHER • Instagram: ⁠@hayleigh.bosher⁠ • Website: ⁠https://www.hayleighbosher.com/ LOVE THIS EPISODE? • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts • Leave a 5⭐ review, it helps more people find the show CREDITS Whose Song Is It Anyway? is produced by Good Form Funded by The British Academy DISCLAIMER Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. It is legal education to help you learn more about your rights.

  3. Jul 30

    Show Me The Money

    Why did Dolly Parton turn down a deal for Elvis to record a version of 'I Will Always Love You'? In this episode we learn from Dolly about how manage your rights, plus I cover what collecting societies to sign up to and ultimately, how to get paid, as well as how income from streaming subscriptions is divided up and how all this sits within a music industry that has a data problem. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:35 Dolly Parton making copyright moves 04:30 The musical copyright and the sound recording 07:40 What kinds of royalties are there? 09:18 How do I actually get paid when my music is used? 09:45 What are collecting societies? 11:00 Where does the money go when we pay a streaming subscription? 17:45 What are the collecting societies in the UK and which ones do I join? PRS, PPL and MCPS 19:16 How much does it costs to join a collecting society? 22:12 Tips for making sure you get paid from your collecting society 22:52 What are the identifier codes and why do I need them? 25:47 ISWC, ISRC, IPI, IPN, ISNI 28:30 What do I do if I get stuck or there is a problem with my collecting society royalties? 29:25 It’s not just you, the music industry has a data problem. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: • PRS: https://www.prsformusic.com/ • MCPS: https://www.prsformusic.com/what-we-do/mcps • PPL: https://www.ppluk.com/ • UK industry agreement on music streaming metadata: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-industry-agreement-on-music-streaming-metadata • Buy your copy of Copyright In The Music Industry (second edition, 2026) -⁠ https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/copyright-in-the-music-industry-9781035330386.html⁠ FIND DR HAYLEIGH BOSHER: • Instagram: ⁠@hayleigh.bosher⁠ • Website: ⁠hayleighbosher.com⁠ LOVE THIS EPISODE? • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts • Leave a 5⭐ review, it helps more people find the show CREDITS Whose Song Is It Anyway? is produced by Good Form Funded by The British Academy DISCLAIMER Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. It is legal education to help you learn more about your rights.

  4. Jul 23

    What Even IS Copyright?

    Would RAYE have won a Grammy and a record-breaking six BRIT Awards in a single night if she had stayed trapped in her record deal? In this first episode, we get to grips with some copyright basics, answering: what is copyright and what does it actually do? Who owns copyright and how can we use it as a tool? And importantly – why should we care about copyright? Hayleigh dives into why every musician needs to understand it before they write, record, or release anything. No legalese. Just the stuff that actually matters to your career.  IN THIS EPISODE: 00:55 Intro  11:11 Case study: RAYE and the Polydor deal  07:15 What is copyright, and what does it actually do?  11:55 Who owns copyright, and how can you use it as a tool?  15:24 Why every creator should care Note: Raye received the Harry Belafonte Humanitarian Award at the Grammys in recognition of her impact and contribution. This episode discusses the wider question of how artist- label relationships can shape career trajectories and opportunities. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Buy your copy of Copyright In The Music Industry (second edition, 2026) - https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/copyright-in-the-music-industry-9781035330386.html FIND DR HAYLEIGH BOSHER: Instagram: @hayleigh.bosher Website: hayleighbosher.com LOVE THIS EPISODE? Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts Leave a 5⭐ review, it helps more people find the show CREDITS Whose Song Is It Anyway? is produced by Good Form To bring your podcast idea to life head to ongoodform.com/podcast-production  Funded by The British Academy

  5. Season 4, Episode 1 Trailer

    Season 4 Trailer

    Season 4 of the Whose Song is it Anyway? podcast, hosted by Dr Hayleigh Bosher, is coming 23rd July 2026! Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.The podcast that acts as your guide to understanding the big legal questions shaping the music and creative industries right now. Each bitesized episode dives into real, current case studies – from viral sampling disputes and interpolation to AI-generated tracks – and your host Dr. Hayleigh Bosher will unpack everything into clear, jargon-free insights. Hosted by a razor sharp legal expert with impeccable style and winning charm, the show blends authority with wit, turning complex copyright law into something you never knew could be so riveting. She knows her stuff, tells it straight, and makes you feel like you’re getting the insider knowledge you never knew you needed on the latest in music IP that has you locked in. Hosted by: Dr Hayleigh Bosher https://www.hayleighbosher.com/ Produced by: Good Form https://www.ongoodform.com/ Funded by: The British Academy https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/brunel-public-policy/news-and-events/news/British-Academy-Research-led-Innovation-Fellowships-2023-24-%E2%80%93-Dr-Hayleigh-Bosher Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. It is legal education to help you learn more about your rights.

  6. 11/03/2023

    Women in Music Panel with Brix Smith, Katie Waissel and Charlene Brown Season Finale

    This special epsisode for the finale of this season was recorded live at the Houses of Parliament with a panel of incredible women Brix Smith, Katie Waissel and Charlene Brown at a Whose Song is it Anyway? event. Pictures of the event are here: https://shorturl.at/mqHL6 To hear about future events follow Hayleigh on social media, or email whosesongisitanyway@gmail.com Thanks for listening to this season and sharing the epsiodes, hope you have enjoyed it and we will be back next year with something new! Here's a playlist of guest's answer to the last question: https://shorturl.at/ezLX4 This season is produced and hosted by Hayleigh Bosher www.instagram.com/hayleigh.bosher/ Edited by Eliza Kania twitter.com/elizakania

    Women in Music Panel with Brix Smith, Katie Waissel and Charlene Brown Season Finale

  7. 10/26/2023

    Eve Horne

    Eve Horne - singer, songwriter, producer, executive director of the Music Producers Guild, founder of the Unheard Academy where she teaches female and non-binary people music production, and the host of the We Are The Unheard Podcast, amongst other things!  In this episode we talk about Eve’s journey from BRIT School, being signed, touring with a girl group, to leaving the music industry and then returning with a massive come back and now doing all. the. things! Eve also talks about her recent ADHD and autism diagnosis.  https://wearetheunheard.com/ https://www.instagram.com/eve_horne/?hl=en-gb https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/we-are-the-unheard/id1599492855 Here's a playlist of guest's answer to the last question: https://shorturl.at/ezLX4 This season is produced and hosted by Hayleigh Bosher www.instagram.com/hayleigh.bosher/ Edited by Eliza Kania twitter.com/elizakania

    Eve Horne

  8. 08/25/2023

    Naomi Pohl

    *trigger warning* mentions reports of sexism and misogyny from Musicians' Union members, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. Naomi Pohl is the General Secretary of the Musicians' Union, a trade union for professional musicians in the UK. Naomi is the first women to hold this position in the MU. We talk about her experience of being the first and being a woman in a position of leadership, the specific pressures and challenges faced by women in leadership as well as generally by the MU membership. Naomi highlights actions that can be taken to improve inclusion and safety in the music industry from changing the law to changes within the industry. https://musiciansunion.org.uk/ https://musiciansunion.org.uk/news/naomi-pohl-first-female-general-secretary https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6736/misogyny-in-music/  https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/bullying-harasment  https://musiciansunion.org.uk/safespace Here's a playlist of guest's answer to the last question: https://shorturl.at/ezLX4 This season is produced and hosted by Hayleigh Bosher www.instagram.com/hayleigh.bosher/ Edited by Eliza Kania twitter.com/elizakania

    Naomi Pohl
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About

The podcast that acts as your guide to understanding the big legal questions shaping the music and creative industries right now. Each bitesized episode dives into real, current case studies – from viral sampling disputes and interpolation to AI-generated tracks – and your host Dr Hayleigh Bosher will unpack everything into clear, jargon-free insights. Hosted by a razor sharp lawyer with impeccable style and winning charm, the show blends authority with wit, turning complex copyright law into something you never knew could be so riveting. She knows her stuff and tells it straight.

Information

  • Creator
    Hayleigh Bosher
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hayleigh Bosher
  • Show Website
    Whose Song Is It Anyway?