Music publishers v. 14 NBA teams: what happened and what it means

Written by Jason Lee, Co-Founder · Reviewed by Hani Sedyono, Head of Operations & Legal · Reviewed October 18, 2026

The suits

In mid-July 2024, music publishers filed separate copyright suits against 14 NBA teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves (Digital Music News; CMU; Sports Illustrated).

The plaintiffs were publishers rather than record labels: Kobalt, Artist Publishing Group (APG), Notting Hill Music and Prescription Songs, with MXM joining the Heat suit. Publishers own the songwriting side of a song, the melody and lyrics, which means their claims apply whichever recording or version is used.

The complaints alleged the teams used the publishers' songs in videos across "a variety of consumer-facing platforms". For the Knicks, that included TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and NBA.com, with 23 videos linked in the complaint. Songs written for or recorded by artists including DaBaby, Machine Gun Kelly, Charli XCX and Dua Lipa were cited. The publishers sought damages for direct, contributory and vicarious infringement. The NBA itself was not named.

How they ended

The teams settled. By the end of April 2025, nine of the suits had settled in the Southern District of New York, and the publishers filed a notice of settlement in the last remaining case, against the Phoenix Suns, on April 30, 2025 (Bloomberg Law). None of the terms were made public.

So we don't know what any team paid. We do know that 14 professional sports organisations, with legal departments and established licensing relationships, all chose to settle rather than fight.

Why sports content is so exposed

Sports teams post more video than almost any brand: game highlights, player intros, hype reels, behind-the-scenes clips and sponsor activations, often within minutes of the action. Social teams cut to whatever matches the energy, and that's usually a current rap or pop track. Arena music licensing doesn't automatically extend to social video, and the platforms' in-app libraries are licensed for personal use, not a franchise's marketing.

Teams also post the same clip in many places. One highlight can go to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and the team site, each a separate use.

Why publishers, and why these songs

Publishers like Kobalt and APG administer songwriting catalogs that sit underneath a huge share of current hip-hop and pop. Their interest is the composition, so it doesn't matter whether a team used the original recording, a remix, a cover or an instrumental version that keeps the melody. If the song is recognisable, the publisher's rights are in play.

The songs cited were the kind social teams favour: high-energy rap and pop tracks that fit dunks, buzzer-beaters and walk-out videos. Popularity cuts both ways. The songs that make a clip feel right are the ones rights holders are most likely to be watching for.

It's also worth noting the scale of the response. Fourteen suits filed in a single wave, against teams across the league, signalled a coordinated enforcement effort rather than a one-off complaint. For other sports organisations, the message was that the same treatment could reach them.

What a clean setup looks like for a sports social team

1. A cleared library for social. Production music licensed for social media and online video, organised by mood so editors can find a track quickly.
2. Original audio where it works. Crowd noise, commentary and player mics are often more engaging than a song.
3. Direct licenses for big moments. If a campaign really needs a hit, license it properly for the platforms and the term.
4. A check on sponsored and boosted posts. These carry more risk and more brands.

Lessons for teams, leagues and brands

• Publishers enforce too. Labels get the headlines, but publishers brought every one of these cases. A cover or a re-recording doesn't avoid the songwriter's rights.
• Arena licenses aren't social licenses. Playing a song in the building and posting it online are different uses with different permissions.
• Speed is the risk. The faster content goes out, the less likely anyone checks the audio. Build a cleared library of tracks the team can use instantly.
• Sponsors are exposed too. Sponsored segments and partner content carry the sponsor's brand alongside the team's.
• Settlements are quiet, but not free. Fourteen confidential settlements still mean legal fees and a change in how content is made.

A scenario for a team or sports brand

A minor-league hockey team's social team posts 30 clips a week during the season. Goal celebrations use whatever the arena DJ played. Nobody has ever checked whether the team's music licenses cover social media. At the end of the season, a check of the team's TikTok and Instagram finds 140 clips with commercial songs.

The fix isn't to stop posting. It's to license a production library for social use, set it up so the team's editors can drop a cleared track in seconds, and check anything sponsored or boosted. It's worth noting that production music libraries enforce their own rights as well: APM has sued Major League Soccer and the American Hockey League over library tracks. Licensed means licensed for this use, so check the terms.

Common questions

Part of: Lawsuits and claims

Related guides

• Lawsuit tracker: brands sued over music in social posts
• Music copyright for sports teams and leagues
• Can stock music companies sue you?
• Do covers need a license for brand videos?
• Music copyright for universities and athletics

General information, not legal advice. Platform rules and licenses change; check the current terms or ask your lawyer about your situation. Lawsuit figures are as reported and represent claims, not findings, unless noted.