Adele, the 16-time Grammy winner, has recently been hit with plagiarism allegations regarding her 2015 song “Million Years Ago” from her album 25. The Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes filed a lawsuit, claiming that the music from Adele’s track was copied from his song “Mulheres (Women)” released in 1995. According to expert analysis cited in the complaint, 88 percent of the melody in “Million Years Ago” allegedly mirrors Geraes’ work. Geraes had initially sent extrajudicial notices to Adele and her label, XL Recordings, but after no response, he took the matter to court. He expressed confidence that he would win the case, emphasizing that his music is his legacy, something he considers invaluable.
On December 13, Brazilian judge Victor Torres ruled in favor of Geraes, ordering the Brazilian branches of Universal and Sony to cease using, reproducing, or distributing the song “Million Years Ago” in any form. Geraes is suing for $160,000 in moral damages and lost royalties, with a daily fine of $8,000 for non-compliance.
“Million Years Ago” was produced by Greg Kurstin and written by Adele and Kurstin, and as of now, the song remains available on Spotify, with more than 220 million streams. Geraes’ lawyer, Fredimio Trotta, suggested that this case highlights how Brazilian music has often been exploited for international success, and he hopes the ruling serves as a warning to others in the industry.
This is not the first time “Million Years Ago” has faced plagiarism claims. In 2015, fans of Turkish-Kurdish folk singer Ahmet Kaya also pointed out similarities between Adele’s song and Kaya’s 1985 tune “Acilara Tutunmak (Clinging to Pain).” While some critics acknowledged parallels, they believed it was more likely a coincidence rather than deliberate plagiarism.
As of now, Adele has not commented on the Brazilian judge’s ruling. She is currently on a break after completing her two-year Las Vegas residency and is exploring other creative ventures.