rhythm

*This episode originally aired on April 20th, 2023*

When it comes to making art, what's the difference between inspiration and theft? Between artistic license and copyright infringement? That is the question at the heart of one of the biggest musical copyright cases in years that went to trial this past year.

Today on the show, did Ed Sheeran steal from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in his hit single "Thinking Out Loud"? Law professor Jennifer Jenkins sits down at the piano to help us hear the differences and similarities between these two songs.

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There's a lot for scientists to learn about the origins of humans' musical abilities. In the last few years, though, they've discovered homo sapiens have some company in our ability to make musical rhythm. That's why today, producer Berly McCoy brings the story of singing lemurs. She explains how their harmonies could help answer questions about the beginnings of humans' musical abilities, and what all of this has to do with Queen.

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