Jason Derulo faced intense cross-examination in a Los Angeles federal trial over songwriting credits for his 2020 hit 'Savage Love.' Session musician Matthew Spatola claims he deserves writing and producing shares. The trial is set to conclude with closing arguments on Wednesday.
Jason Derulo sparred with opposing lawyer Christopher Frost on Tuesday, May 5, during cross-examination in an ongoing Los Angeles federal copyright trial. The dispute centers on credits and royalties for 'Savage Love,' a viral TikTok track from August 2020 that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix with BTS. Plaintiff Matthew Spatola, credited as a session musician, alleges he contributed creatively enough to warrant writing and producing splits beyond his session role during April 2020 recording sessions amid COVID-19 restrictions. Derulo testified last week that Spatola 'created absolutely nothing,' despite playing 'a beautiful guitar and bass.' Frost pressed Derulo on whether creative contributions merit writing credit, prompting Derulo to reply, 'I love giving people their just due. The last thing that I’ve ever wanted to do was take something from someone. If Mr. Spatola created the [melody], I would absolutely have given him credit.' The lawyer grilled Derulo about differences between Spatola's organic guitar and the synth guitar from the original beat 'Laxed – Siren Beat' by Jawsh 685. Derulo insisted, 'The melody all existed in ‘Laxed — Siren Beat,’' and described Spatola as re-playing it on guitar. Frost highlighted the lack of a signed work-for-hire agreement, noting Derulo's text offering '$1K good each day?' Derulo explained his business team typically handles such paperwork, but quarantine measures prevented it. The trial is scheduled to wrap up Wednesday, May 6, with closing arguments, after which the jury will deliberate Spatola's claim.
