Current Events > Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) sues black singer who already had the name

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eston posted...

If you say it with a southern drawl, Antebellum sounds kinda like anti-BLM

Goddammit lol

But anyways just change it to Lady America like someone else said. No idea why they thought "Antebellum" was every a good name to begin with.

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Houston posted...

Though you're not wrong, you're wrong in this case. I suggest you look up what quotation marks are generally used for. Furthermore, it's obvious that she is black and a singer. So I'm not sure where the distrust you describe comes from.

Then what exactly was your point of quoting "black singer" when it is relevant to the topic at hand.

In summary, Lady Antebellum changed their name in symbolic support to Black Lives Matter and respect to African-American history. They changed their name to Lady A which has already been used by another artist who happens to be black. Them suing her is a noteworthy thing given the specifics of this case.

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I mean legally they could win but morally it kinda fucked up

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eston posted...

If you say it with a southern drawl, Antebellum sounds kinda like anti-BLM

Well, I mean, that was the whole point of the Antebellum era.

Kastrada posted...

They changed their name to Lady A which has already been used by another artist who happens to be black. Them suing her is a noteworthy thing given the specifics of this case.

If you read the article, the band has also referenced themselves as Lady A. The band also has a trademark for the name "Lady A". Please read the article. TC posted an extremely misleading topic title that suggested some band was taking over a black singer's name, which is simply not the case.


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Why is it called lady anything if it's 2/3rds guys I tell you hwat

Houston posted...

If you read the article, the band has also referenced themselves as Lady A. The band also has a trademark for the name "Lady A". Please read the article. TC posted an extremely misleading topic title that suggested some band was taking over a black singer's name, which is simply not the case.

They have referenced themselves. They used it as a nickname. That has not been their moniker that they have made their entire livelihood as.

This woman has been Lady A for twenty years. She has a radio program with the moniker. She has a production company with the name. It's been her name and her life, not just simply a nickname used on a website and then promptly forgotten until BLM.

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One step forward two steps back.

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Kastrada posted...

They have referenced themselves. They used it as a nickname. That has not been their moniker that they have made their entire livelihood as.

This woman has been Lady A for twenty years. She has a radio program with the moniker. She has a production company with the name. It's been her name and her life, not just simply a nickname used on a website and then promptly forgotten until BLM.

This, and the band acknowledges that. Under the law, first use still prevails if there is a dispute, even if the trademark is registered.

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geesus, she looks like the villain from Dr Sleep

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Complete_Idi0t posted...

Why is it called lady anything if it's 2/3rds guys I tell you hwat

I think the A refers to the Eiffel tower position

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they should change their name to lady amelia bedelia cause thats how dumb they be lol

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This timeline man, wtf
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I will let them be called Lady Antifar for only $100k
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Jagr_68 posted...

In related news,

The Who have sued WHO and The Guess Who? for stealing their name.

Don't forget Doctor Who!

ASithLord7 posted...

Lmao what a good look when youre trying not to look like out of touch racist hicks

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CommonStar posted...

What...I can't...what?

Changing your name because you want to be performative and get those brownie points for saying you support BLM, but then go and sue a Black artist who had that name for 20+ years. Nice

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TheGoldenEel posted...

it is literally impossible at this point to pick a name that some no name musician hasnt already chosen somewhere in the world.

I can promise you no band has ever chosen to use my name "Conspiracy to Defame Katie." But feel free.

But legalities aside, anyone who knows a person has been using a name for a decade and still tries to sue her to get her to stop using it is, can we agree, a scummy fuck.


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brokenfingers posted...

I can promise you no band has ever chosen to use my name "Conspiracy to Defame Katie." But feel free.

But legalities aside, anyone who knows a person has been using a name for a decade and still tries to sue her to get her to stop using it is, can we agree, a scummy fuck.

They are not trying to get her to stop using the name

as I understand the story they were working to come to an agreement that both acts continue using the name, as many acts before have done, until talks broke down and the singer demanded $10 million from the band. So now the band is claiming theyve held trademark on Lady A for ten years and are legally able to use the name.

again, this singer being known as Lady A for twenty years is misleading as fuck. She is a complete no name who released her first album in 2010 (AFTER Lady Antebellum is claiming they had been using the name Lady A). Her top song on Spotify has around 2000 plays and the rest have less than 1000 (and theres no way to know how many of those plays came after this controversy got her name out there). There is no way anyone can argue that this woman was a notable name outside of local musician circles in Seattle.

this easily could have been a situation where they just agreed to both use the names, it got the singers name out there, hell Im sure they would have tossed her some cash over it too. But instead her legal team is asking for TEN MILLION DOLLARS which is completely ridiculous. She is very obviously banking on the optics of Lady Antebellum fighting to use a name a black woman uses

direct quote from the band saying theyre not trying to get her to stop using the name

Today we are sad to share that our sincere hope to join together with Anita White in unity and common purpose has ended. She and her team have demanded a $10 million payment, so reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that we need to ask a court to affirm our right to continue to use the name Lady A, a trademark we have held for many years.

When we learned that Ms. White had also been performing under the name Lady A, we had heartfelt discussions with her about how we can all come together and make something special and beautiful out of this moment. We never even entertained the idea that she shouldnt also be able to use the name Lady A, and never willtodays action doesnt change that.

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Merge the acts.
Problem solved.

Arcanine2009 posted...

geesus, she looks like the villain from Dr Sleep

Wouldnt that be a compliment?

Rebecca Ferguson plays Rose the Hat in the movie, and shes really good-looking.

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TheGoldenEel posted...

again, this singer being known as Lady A for twenty years is misleading as fuck. She is a complete no name who released her first album in 2010 (AFTER Lady Antebellum is claiming they had been using the name Lady A). Her top song on Spotify has around 2000 plays and the rest have less than 1000 (and theres no way to know how many of those plays came after this controversy got her name out there). There is no way anyone can argue that this woman was a notable name outside of local musician circles in Seattle.

She has a stage name, a recording label, and a radio show all with the Lady A name that she's been using for years.

Lady Antebellum is arguing they have had Lady A as a nickname and have specific examples of like....three times? Literally their whole career and notoriety has been based on the Antebellum name.

As for what they said about trying to share it and everything? We have no clue what the contract says. At all. It's she-said/they-said at this point.

But looking at the optics?

It's a woman who, regardless of how well known she is outside of Washington, has made a career and business in the music industry with the Lady A moniker for the past two decades.

Lady Antebellum suddenly realizes their name is fucked up because of the BLM protests and changes it to Lady A (which is still just shortening the already insensitive name in the first place). When a black woman refuses to share the name, they decide to sue her.

I'm taking everything the Lady Antebellum camp says with a grain of salt.

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I mean, Lady A still stands for Lady Antebellum in that band's case, at least in the public's eye, so they should change it completely or just keep it the same.
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