Blab Music
Beyonce Faces New Sample-Clearing Lawsuit Over 2022 Track "Alien Superstar"
In August 2026, a fresh lawsuit has re‑ignited a decades‑old dispute over a brief spoken‑word clip in Beyoncé’s 2022 single “Alien Superstar.” Hirose Enterprise, represented by producer Shuji Hirose, alleges that the track’s opening contains an unlicensed excerpt from John Holiday’s 1998 song “Moonraker.” The complaint points to a fragment that, according to court filings, was used without a proper license.
The lawsuit claims that Beyoncé’s team cleared the sample only weeks after the album’s release, but Hirose argues that Holiday had transferred the rights to the song long before Renaissance hit shelves. In the complaint, Hirose maintains that the clearance was not authorized by the rightful owner, and he seeks an injunction to halt further monetization of “Alien Superstar” along with unspecified damages. The suit names Parkwood Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing, W. Chappell Music Corp. and John Holiday as defendants.
A similar claim had surfaced earlier in the year. USA Today reported on June 30, 2026, that a judge dismissed a copyright suit against Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment over the same track. The dismissal hinged on a court finding that Parkwood had secured both a recording and composition license for “Moonraker” in exchange for a $10,000 payment and a 0.5 % share of the song’s royalties. The new filing, therefore, challenges the validity of that earlier clearance, asserting that the rights were not properly transferred to Parkwood. The court has yet to decide whether the June dismissal applies to the August case.
“Alien Superstar” appeared as the third track on Renaissance, Beyoncé’s seventh studio album released on July 29, 2022. The song was a commercial success and helped launch the Renaissance World Tour, which concluded in October 2023. Its production features a spoken‑word intro that the lawsuit identifies as the disputed sample.
Beyoncé’s career spans R&B, pop, and even country with her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. She has earned 35 Grammy Awards, an Emmy for the Beyoncé Bowl special, and reached billionaire status in December 2025. The lawsuit comes at a time when the artist is promoting her latest tour and preparing for a new album release.
The case underscores the ongoing importance of sample clearance in the music industry. In the streaming era, even short excerpts can trigger legal action if proper licensing is not secured. Industry observers note that the dispute may prompt record labels to review their clearance procedures for older tracks.
At present, the lawsuit is pending. No court date has been set, and the parties have not issued statements beyond the filings. Beyoncé’s legal team has not yet responded publicly. The outcome of the case will determine whether the track can continue to be streamed and sold.
The lawsuit highlights the complexities of music copyright when rights ownership changes over time. It also illustrates how artists and labels must navigate the legal landscape to avoid costly disputes.
Until a resolution is reached, “Alien Superstar” remains available on streaming platforms, and Beyoncé’s touring schedule continues as planned. The industry will watch closely to see how the court interprets the transfer of rights and the validity of the earlier clearance agreement.
The lawsuit claims that Beyoncé’s team cleared the sample only weeks after the album’s release, but Hirose argues that Holiday had transferred the rights to the song long before Renaissance hit shelves. In the complaint, Hirose maintains that the clearance was not authorized by the rightful owner, and he seeks an injunction to halt further monetization of “Alien Superstar” along with unspecified damages. The suit names Parkwood Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing, W. Chappell Music Corp. and John Holiday as defendants.
A similar claim had surfaced earlier in the year. USA Today reported on June 30, 2026, that a judge dismissed a copyright suit against Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment over the same track. The dismissal hinged on a court finding that Parkwood had secured both a recording and composition license for “Moonraker” in exchange for a $10,000 payment and a 0.5 % share of the song’s royalties. The new filing, therefore, challenges the validity of that earlier clearance, asserting that the rights were not properly transferred to Parkwood. The court has yet to decide whether the June dismissal applies to the August case.
“Alien Superstar” appeared as the third track on Renaissance, Beyoncé’s seventh studio album released on July 29, 2022. The song was a commercial success and helped launch the Renaissance World Tour, which concluded in October 2023. Its production features a spoken‑word intro that the lawsuit identifies as the disputed sample.
Beyoncé’s career spans R&B, pop, and even country with her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. She has earned 35 Grammy Awards, an Emmy for the Beyoncé Bowl special, and reached billionaire status in December 2025. The lawsuit comes at a time when the artist is promoting her latest tour and preparing for a new album release.
The case underscores the ongoing importance of sample clearance in the music industry. In the streaming era, even short excerpts can trigger legal action if proper licensing is not secured. Industry observers note that the dispute may prompt record labels to review their clearance procedures for older tracks.
At present, the lawsuit is pending. No court date has been set, and the parties have not issued statements beyond the filings. Beyoncé’s legal team has not yet responded publicly. The outcome of the case will determine whether the track can continue to be streamed and sold.
The lawsuit highlights the complexities of music copyright when rights ownership changes over time. It also illustrates how artists and labels must navigate the legal landscape to avoid costly disputes.
Until a resolution is reached, “Alien Superstar” remains available on streaming platforms, and Beyoncé’s touring schedule continues as planned. The industry will watch closely to see how the court interprets the transfer of rights and the validity of the earlier clearance agreement.
