Sonic Adventure 2 Songwriter is Suing Sega

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Summary

  • Singer and songwriter Johnny Gioeli is suing Sega over the use of Sonic Adventure 2‘s ‘Live and Learn’ in other games.
  • Gioeli claims that Sega only paid for the rights to the song’s lyrics and not the rest of the composition.
  • Damages from Sega’s apparent breach of contract could cost the company over $500,000.

As a long-time fan and avid gamer, I’ve grown up with Johnny Gioeli’s iconic music for Sonic the Hedgehog, from the electrifying anthems of Crush 40 to the emotional ballads that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the series. The news of Johnny Gioeli suing Sega over the use of “Live and Learn” in other games has left me feeling a bit disheartened.

Johnny Gioeli, the singer and songwriter for some of the most iconic Sonic the Hedgehog themes, is now suing Sega over the use of Sonic Adventure 2’s “Live and Learn.” Modern Sonic the Hedgehog fans are likely very familiar with Gioeli and his work, as he has helped produce rousing rock anthems for the 3D Sonic games as part of the band Crush 40. This music has since become near-synonymous with the franchise, and Gioeli has even performed the themes he helped create live on many occasions.

One standout track from Crush 40 is “Live and Learn,” which served as the main theme for the final boss battle in Sonic Adventure 2 of 2001, where Sonic and Shadow face off against the colossal Biolizard. Much like numerous tunes from Sonic the Hedgehog throughout the years, “Live and Learn” holds a special place in the hearts of fans who enjoyed playing the 3D games. This song has been reused on several occasions since its first release, including a brief sample in Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) spin-off, and can be heard in games like Sonic Generations and Sonic Frontiers through built-in jukeboxes within the game.

I’ve found myself in an unfortunate situation lately, as my beloved song “Live and Learn” has been back in the limelight due to a legal dispute with Sega of America. According to reports from Polygon, Johnny Gioeli, the singer behind the track, is taking action against Sega for using the song in various games without paying royalties for the complete composition. He asserts that they only acquired the rights to the lyrics, but not the full piece, making their use of it without his compensation a breach of contract. What’s more troubling is that he claims to have been unaware of this extensive usage, spanning at least 25 Sega games.

Johnny Gioeli is Suing Sega for ‘Live and Learn’

As a Sonic fan myself, I’ve got to share a fun fact: I only discovered that “Live and Learn” was used in Sonic Adventure 2. A fellow gamer later enlightened me about its appearances in other Sonic titles. Interestingly enough, the master recording of this track is actually credited to Crush 40, not Sega – yes, you read that right! For years, I’ve taken care of and registered the rights to this specific recording with BMI. In fact, I hold the copyright.

In a surprising turn of events, it appears that Johnny Gioeli’s well-known vocal track from Sonic Adventure 2 is at the heart of a recent lawsuit. According to Gioeli, he’s not seeking revenge but rather a court decision to establish who legitimately owns the song’s masters and to reimburse him for the potential profits lost due to its use in subsequent games. His lawyer estimates that the damages for Sega’s alleged contract breach could exceed $500,000, with unpaid royalties potentially amounting to an equal sum. At present, Sega of America has remained silent on this matter.

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2024-12-19 22:57