The Beach Boys‘ legal representatives have reportedly asked Katy Perry‘s record label to give Brian Wilson and Mike Love songwriting credits and royalties from her song ‘California Gurls’.
Perry‘s song, which features Snoop Dogg, contains elements of The Beach Boys‘ 1965 hit ‘California Girls’. The band’s representatives at Rondor Music are said to have contacted Perry‘s label Capitol Records about the similarities, an unnamed music industry source told the New York Post.
“Rondor Music has sent a letter to Capitol on behalf of Mike Love and Brian Wilson, saying Katy has cribbed one of the most famous lyrics in history, so Love and Wilson should be entitled to a writing credit and a portion of the royalties,” the source said.
Snoop Dogg sings the line “I wish they all could be California Girls” – which features in The Beach Boys‘ song – towards the end of Perry‘s track.
Both Wilson and Love‘s spokespersons have distanced the artists from the proceedings, with Wilson‘s representative saying: “Rondor owns the track and called Brian and Mike, saying they were going to complain. Brian likes Katy‘s record and doesn’t know where the situation stands.”
Love‘s spokesperson said: “Mike and Brian wrote the song… but any legal action is up to Rondor.”
Wilson and Love have previously come out in favour of Perry‘s track, with the former telling the Los Angeles Times: “I love her vocal. She sounds very clear and energetic… the melody is infectious.”