Honors Theses
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Journalism
First Advisor
Charles Mitchell
Second Advisor
Marshall Ramsey
Third Advisor
William Wilkins
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Much of popular music has started to bear resemblance to songs of the past as artists rely on techniques, including sampling and interpolations, to ensure their song is a guaranteed hit. But what are the legal implications behind that, and is the line between inspiration and copying getting blurred? This thesis aims to consider the precedent of copyright law as applied to modern musical works and how the landscape of popular music has evolved over time to raise more copyright concerns. It also looks at two modern case studies of musical inspiration that have resulted in legal claims: the song “Blurred Lines” (2013) by Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I, and various songs from Olivia Rodrigo’s album Sour (2021). Through this analysis, there are many considerations for the future of popular music.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Jessica, "That Song Sounds Familiar: An Analysis of U.S. Copyright Considerations in Popular Music" (2026). Honors Theses. 3456.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3456
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