Rising artist Olivia Marsh and her agency Mplify Records have officially addressed plagiarism allegations surrounding her song Backseat, one of the title tracks from her debut album Meanwhile. Following claims made by Isaac Dunbar, whose 2019 track Onion Boy bore striking similarities to Backseat, Mplify Records has acknowledged the issue and reached an agreement with the independent artist.
According to a report from SportsSeoul.com, Mplify Records stated:
“After comparing the two songs directly, we concluded that Isaac Dunbar’s claims were valid. Accordingly, we have reached an amicable agreement with Isaac Dunbar, and are currently working on all necessary tasks, such as negotiating the composition share and registering credits, so that the original author’s rights can be guaranteed.”
Additionally, Mplify Records issued a formal apology:
“We will learn from this incident and closely review our internal systems to ensure that this kind of situation does not happen again. We bow our heads once again to Isaac Dunbar and sincerely apologize to the fans who were disappointed by this incident.”
Plagiarism Allegations and Response Timeline
The controversy first gained traction following the release of Marsh’s Backseat music video on February 21st. Shortly after, Dunbar took to social media to express frustration over the track’s similarities to his song Onion Boy, sparking widespread discussion online.
Mplify Records promptly addressed the allegations in a statement posted on their official social media channels:
“We are aware of concerns raised regarding Backseat and allegations of plagiarism. We take these matters very seriously and are committed to upholding artistic integrity and originality in all our work.
At this time, we are conducting a thorough review of the situation to understand the concerns and ensure transparency. We respect the rights of all creators and will address this matter appropriately.
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our listeners and the wider music community. Further updates will be provided as we gather more information.”
Following the statement, Dunbar removed his initial social media posts. Both he and Marsh later confirmed that they had directly communicated regarding the situation, leading to the resolution announced by Mplify Records.
This development marks a significant moment in the early years of Mplify Records, Warner Music Korea’s newly established label, with the company now promising stricter oversight to prevent future controversies. Fans remain divided, with some supporting Marsh for addressing the issue, while others continue to criticize the situation.
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