Alice Merton demands $1 million: Lawsuit against Kanye West over “Blindside” sample

In the music industry, where creativity and originality are paramount, it is essential that artists retain control over their work. A current case bringing this issue into the spotlight is the lawsuit filed by German-Irish singer Alice Merton against US rapper Kanye West.

At recordJet, we are closely following the case because Alice laid her first roots with us. recordJet provided the launchpad for her digital distribution. We vividly remember celebrating over 200,000 units sold with a huge gold party in 2017 at our regular recordJet hangout, the Anna Hirsch Bar in Berlin’s Torstraße. The single and EP were already released back then via her own label, Paper Plane Records International, which Alice Merton founded together with her manager Paul Grauwinkel. We’ve always seen Alice as an independent and powerful artist — and she undoubtedly is. That’s why we find it so important that she is now standing up to global player Kanye West.

The Incident: Unauthorized Sampling

In 2022, Alice released the song “Blindside.” In December 2023, Kanye West premiered his track “Gun to My Head” at a listening party in Miami — and it included a sample from “Blindside.” The issue: West had not obtained permission to use the sample. He officially requested clearance in February 2024, but Merton declined. Despite this rejection, West continued to use the sample, which led Merton to file a copyright infringement lawsuit on March 25, 2025.

I sat down with a gun to my head

Why Alice Merton Said No

Merton’s refusal wasn’t based solely on copyright concerns. She stated that West’s past antisemitic and racist remarks were incompatible with her own values and beliefs. As an artist with Jewish roots and Holocaust survivors in her family, she did not want to be associated with someone whose words and actions contradict her principles.

Legal Action and Demands

The lawsuit, filed in a California district court, seeks at least $1 million in damages. Merton argues that the unauthorized use of her song not only violated her copyright but also compromised her artistic integrity.

A Wake-Up Call for the Music Industry

This case highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property and upholding ethical responsibility in the music world. Artists pour heart and soul into their creations, so it’s vital their rights and values are respected. Alice Merton’s lawsuit against Kanye West is a powerful statement for integrity, artistic autonomy, and fairness in the music business.

In a time where music is shared across the globe, this case reminds us that behind every song stands a person — with beliefs, with rights. It’s up to all of us to acknowledge and protect them.