Adele’s song “Million Years Ago” has been ordered to be removed from streaming platforms globally after a Brazilian court ruled it plagiarized a samba hit. Composer Toninho Geraes accused Adele of copying the melody of his 1995 track “Mulheres,” performed by Martinho da Vila. The Rio de Janeiro court’s injunction mandates Adele’s record labels, Sony and Universal, to cease all distribution of the song, with a daily $8,000 fine for non-compliance.
Geraes, whose song is considered a landmark of Brazilian music, claims “Million Years Ago” lifts key elements from his work and seeks royalties, songwriting credit, and $160,000 in damages. He emphasized his goal was not to expose Adele personally but to achieve fair compensation. This is not the first plagiarism accusation the song has faced, with Turkish artist Ahmet Kaya’s fans previously claiming similarities to his 1985 song “Clinging to Pain.”
The ruling is seen as a significant warning to international music producers regarding the use of Brazilian music, according to Geraes’ lawyer, Fredimio Trotta. Sony and Universal are expected to appeal the decision while ensuring global broadcasters and streaming platforms comply with the injunction.
Despite the controversy, Adele has not yet publicly commented on the matter. Her representatives, as well as Sony and Universal, have been approached for their responses.
