Brian McBrearty is a forensic musicologist and the founder of Musicologize. Broadcast and print outlets interview and quote him on music copyright disputes. For interviews, call (212) 217-9512 or email brianmcbrearty@gmail.com. Short notice is fine.
Television and radio
Good Morning America (ABC), October 4, 2026
Interviewed on the copyright suit over Olivia Dean’s “I’ve Seen It” and Bill Withers’s “Just the Two of Us.” Watch the segment. The analysis behind it is here.
BBC World Service, Newshour, March 28, 2025
Live interview on the dismissal of the Dua Lipa “Levitating” suit. Listen to the edition, or read the notes on the appearance.
NPR, All Things Considered, March 9, 2020
Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Dispute Over “Stairway to Heaven”, on the appeals court ruling for Led Zeppelin.
The New York Times, October 14, 2026
Stella Lefty Crafted a Viral Hit. Some Thought It Sounded Familiar. Quoted on how pattern recognition leads listeners to “see cause and effect and attribute to copying” what may be coincidence. The full song-by-song analysis is here.
Variety, July 6, 2026
Taylor Swift Prevails in Poet’s Plagiarism Lawsuit, as Florida Judge Dismisses Case With Prejudice, by Chris Willman. Variety quoted the December column Marasco v. Taylor Swift Was and Is Doomed in its coverage of the dismissal.
Reuters, August 3, 2024
Music Labels’ AI Lawsuits Create New Copyright Puzzle for US Courts, by Blake Brittain. On the record labels’ lawsuits against AI music generators.
Music.ai, August 28, 2025
A Forensic Musicologist’s Take on Why Song Lyrics Are the Key to Solving AI Copyright Disputes.
DancehallMag, June 7, 2024
Music Experts Split After Judge Clears Steely & Clevie’s Reggaetón Lawsuit for Trial. An interview on whether the rhythm at the center of the Steely & Clevie reggaeton case can be protected.
Podcasts
Scoring Notes, March 1, 2025
Holding Court with Brian McBrearty, Forensic Musicologist (Episode 146).
Courthouse News, Sidebar, June 27, 2023
Give Me a Beat! (Season 3, Episode 8), on the Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” trial and the Steely & Clevie reggaeton case.
Ipse Dixit, May 5, 2023
Brian McBrearty on Forensic Musicology, with Brian L. Frye.