There’s a branding lesson in here somewhere

“Voice” is a key component of branding.

Can you sound too much like yourself? What if you sound too little like yourself?

John Fogerty’s record label sued him for sounding too much like … John Fogerty. Fogerty filed a countersuit, and the case went to the Supreme Court in Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc. (1993). Fogerty won.

In 1983, Neil Young’s record label sued him for recording “unrepresentative” and "uncharacteristic" albums. In other words, they were essentially arguing that Neil Young no longer sounded like Neil Young. The suit was settled.

There’s a branding lesson in there somewhere.

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Sources (with the full stories):

https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/when-john-fogerty-was-sued-for-plagiarizing-himself/

https://americansongwriter.com/remember-when-neil-young-was-sued-by-his-label-for-not-being-commercial-enough/