PUBLICATIONs
Selected book chapters, academic articles, conference papers, music journalism, blogging, and media interviews.
BOOK CHAPTERS, JOURNALS & MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Review of case law and music comparison methodologies. Cases include Smith v Weeknd, Gray v Perry, Arnstein v Porter. Methods described include Musical Work comparison, sample analysis, and soundalike analysis.
In Music Borrowing and Copyright Law, edited by Chen Zhu and Enrico Bonadio. Hart/Bloomsbury, 2023
pdf pre-publication full text
Determining the Composition
Case studies : Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Mobb Deep.
The Oxford Handbook of Music Law and Policy. Oxford University Press USA, 2021. Joe Bennett and Sean O’Connor.
Link • pdf full text
What Makes Trap … Trap?
TIDAL magazine. June 8, 2020.
Link
Anatomy of the Hit: Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”
TIDAL magazine. June 10, 2019.
Link | Part of a series
Songwriting, Digital Audio Workstations, and the Internet
Book chapter. In The Oxford Handbook of the Creative Process in Music.
Oxford University Press, 2018.
Link | E-book version | Pre-publication PDF
Towards a Framework for Creativity in Popular Music Degrees
Book chapter. In The Routledge Companion to Popular Music Education.
Routledge, 2018.
PDF
Creativities in Popular Songwriting Curricula
Book chapter. In Activating Diverse Musical Creativities: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Bloomsbury, 2015.
Link
Constraint, Creativity, Copyright and Collaboration in Popular Songwriting Teams
PhD thesis, University of Surrey, 2014. Supervisor: Alan Moore. pdf
REF 2014 Impact Case Study – the international impact of Joe Bennett’s research
Research Excellence Framework/Bath Spa University, 2014.
Evaluated as demonstrating ‘quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.’
Link
Conference review: popMAC 2013.
Popular Music (academic journal), 33, pp. 341-342.
Link
Constraint, Collaboration and Creativity in Popular Songwriting Teams
Book chapter. In The Act of Musical Composition: Studies in the Creative Process.
Ashgate, 2012.
Link
You Won’t See Me: In Search of an Epistemology of Collaborative Songwriting
Journal on the Art of Record Production. 2013.
Link
You Can’t Teach Songwriting!
Total Guitar (magazine), September 2012.
Link
Come To Steal Your Song Away? Plagiarism in Popular Songwriting
Total Guitar (magazine), July 2012.
Link
The Song Remains The Same – Why? Darwinism in Song Evolution
Total Guitar (magazine), June 2012.
Link
Over 300 articles (reviews, interviews, teaching, analysis)
for Future Music (magazine), Total Guitar (magazine), Classic CD (magazine), Music Tech (magazine) and others. 1994–
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Close To The Edge: Forensic Musicology and Plagiarism (Keynote Speaker)
Association of Popular Music Education conference.
Loyola University, New Orleans, USA. May 2023.
Video
How Someone Controlled You: The Digital Audio Workstation and the Internet as Influences upon Songwriting Creativity
The 12th Art of Record Production conference.
Kungl Musikhögskolan (Royal College of Music), Stockholm, Sweden. December 2017.
Close to the Edge: Investigating the Myth of the ‘Plagiarism Threshold’ in Musical Creativity
International Association fo the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) Conference.
University of Kassel, Germany. June 2017.
Abstract and slides
‘Waging Wars to Shape the Poet and the Beat’: Songwriting, The Digital Audio Workstation and the Internet
Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association (MMEA) conference.
Boston. March 2017.
I Hate These Blurred Lines: The Intrinsic Test in Music Copyright Disputes
With Professor Wendy Gordon (Boston University School of Law).
The 11th Art of Record Production Conference.
Aalborg University, Denmark. 2016.
Abstract
The Death of the Songwriter: Attribution of Creative Ownership in Popular Music Production
The 9th Art of Record Production conference: Record Production in the Internet Age.
University of Oslo, Norway. December 2014.
Slides
Where is Creativity? Locating Intellectual Property in Collaborative Songwriting and Production Processes
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) UK & Ireland Biennial Conference.
University College Cork, Ireland. September 2014.
Who Writes the Songs? Creative Practice and Intellectual Property in Popular Music’s Digital Production Chain
Creativity, Circulation, and Copyright: Sonic and Visual Media in the Digital Age.
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CRASSH). Cambridge University, UK. March 2014.
Abstract
Forensic Musicology: Approaches and Challenges
The Timeline Never Changes: Audio Engineers Aiding Forensic Investigators in Cases of Suspected Music Piracy. International Audio Engineering Society Convention.
New York, USA. October 2013.
Link
Two Worlds Collide: Originality and Plagiarism in Songwriting
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) Conference.
Gijón, Spain. July 2013.
Abstract
Applying Melodic Analysis to Infer the Extent of Plagiarism in Popular Song Authorship Disputes
PopMAC Popular Music Analysis Conference.
University of Liverpool, UK. 2013.
Abstract
The Ontology of Collaborative Songwriting in Popular Music Studio Practice
The 5th International Art of Record Production Conference.
Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. 2010.
Abstract
Songwriting in Higher Education: a National Teaching Fellowship Project
Higher Education Academy Annual Conference.
University of Nottingham, UK. July 2006.
iTunes and OSX Widgets in the Teaching of Songwriting
Podagogy PALATINE Conference.
University of Wolverhampton, UK. June 2006.
Evidence of Student Learning in Vocational Assessment Environments
Carnegie Colloquium on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Atlanta, USA. 2005.
The Ergonomics of Guitar-Based Songwriting
Leeds Guitar Conference.
Leeds, UK. November 2004.
Teaching and Assessing Songwriting in Higher Education
(Presenter and Chair.)
PALATINE Higher Education Academy Conference.
Bath Spa University, UK. 2004.
PANELIST/GUEST SPEAKER
Proving Song Infringement Through the Use of Sound Recordings: Ed Sheeran to Led Zeppelin
Webinar. Tal Dickstein, Jalyce E. Mangum, and Hillel Parness. The Copyright Society, December 17, 2025
Event page
Music Copyright Claims: Substantial Similarity Analysis and Practical Guidance Panel (CLE)
Panel with Tal Dickstein, Carla M. Miller, and David Przygoda. IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference, Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, NY, January 23, 2025
Music Copyright Claims in Film and TV: Substantial Similarity Analysis and Practical Guidance
Panel with Dan Butler (The Walt Disney Studios) and Tal Dickstein (Loeb & Loeb LLP). Loeb’s IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference, Fairmont Miramar, Santa Monica, CA, October 30, 2024
Forensic Musicology Now (American Musicological Society)
Panel with Katherine Leo, Christopher Doll, Alexander Stewart. AMS annual meeting, Chicago, November 2024
Event page
Latest Developments in Music Copyright Infringement Cases
“Perspectives from Expert Musicologists, Practitioners, and Trial Attorneys”.
Panel with Tal Dickstein, Andrew Goldsmith, Katherine Leo. The Copyright Society annual meeting, The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, USA, June 2024.
Event page
Copyright law meets forensic musicology
Guest speaker: analysis of Forensic Musicology practice in US music copyright infringement case law.
Duke University School of Law, November 6, 2023.
Forensic musicology and Music Copyright: A Road Map for Songwriters
Invited lecture for series “Cutting Edge Research on Popular Music”.
Institut für Popularmusik, University of Music & Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria, October 10, 2023.
Critical Listening in the Analysis of Popular Music
Guest teacher – lectures and song analysis sessions.
Brunnsviks Enskilda Musikhögskola (BEMU), Sweden. May 22-24 , 2023.
Forensic musicology in commercial popular music: ontologies and epistemologies
Research presentation: The Oxford Seminar in Music Theory and Analysis (OSiMTA).
University of Oxford, UK. Jan 18, 2023.
Forensic Musicology: an Overview
Invited lecture on methodological lessons from music copyright case law.
Boston University Law School. November 2017.
Revisiting Three Boys Music v. Michael Bolton
Invited participant in mock retrial of Three Boys Music v. Michael Bolton 212 F.3d 477 (9th Cir.2000).
Boston University Law School. November 2015.
Originality, Creativity, and Copyright in Popular Music
Invited speaker.
Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador. April 2014.
Creativity in Songwriting
Invited speaker.
Lulea University of Technology, Sweden. March 2014.
Songwriting, Creativity, and Ownership
Invited speaker.
Newcastle University. November 2013.
Creativity and Copyright in Songwriting: Defining the Originality Threshold
Invited speaker.
Kingston University, London. November 2013.
Forensic Musicology: Approaches and Challenges
Panelist for roundtable discussion: “The Timeline Never Lies: Audio Engineers Aiding Forensic Investigators in Cases of Suspected Music Piracy.”
Audio Engineering Society International Convention. New York. October 2013.
Link
Plagiarism and Soundalikes
Panelist. With Neil Innes, Philip Pope, and Alan Parker.
Performing Right Society/The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. March 2011.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH JOE BENNETT
BBC Radio resident musicologist
Interviewer: Gordon Smart and others
BBC Radio 5 Live. Weekly, Tuesday at 7pm Eastern (UK midnight), 2024-2026.
Audio playlist • episodes / blogs
Stella Lefty Critics Say She Copied Old Hit Songs. Here’s What the Experts Say.
Interviewer: Bill Donahue.
Billboard, Sep 11, 2026
Link
Remembering Dolly Parton
Interviewer: Luke Siddham Dundon.
ABC national radio Australia, Aug 25, 2026
Link
Eurovision 2026: Post-Contest Analysis
Interviewer: Lynda Kinkade.
CNN International, May 17, 2026.
Link with video
Ye Must Pay Musicians for Using Sample Without Permission
Reference to Expert testimony by Joe Bennett on musical similarity in the Donda copyright case.
The New York Times, May 13, 2026.
Link
I Am K (나는 K입니다)
Two-part documentary on the global K-content phenomenon. Includes interview with Joe Bennett. 7-8 April, 2026
tvN / TVING (South Korea).
Screenshot
What Makes For A Great Christmas Song?
Interview and TV feature with David Pogue for CBS News Sunday Morning, including a discussion of the 11-year study “Trends in Christmas Songwriting” (2014–2024). CBS TV, December 19, 2025.
Link with video
Is AI the future of music?
Interviewer: Sally Sara
Australia ABC National Radio • Sep 17, 2025
Link
The Song Of The Summer
Interviewer: Bridget Brown
Associated Press (AP) • Sep 5, 2025
Link
Remembering Ozzy Osbourne
Interviewer: Tony Livesey
BBC Radio 5 Live • Aug 11, 2025
Audio
Remembering Lalo Schifrin
Interviewers: Chris Warburton and Claire McDonald
BBC Radio 5 Live • June 27, 2025
Audio
Taylor Swift’s Net Worth Set to Dramatically Change
Interviewer: Megan Cartwright
Newsweek, June 15, 2025
Link
Remembering Brian Wilson
Interviewer: Max Foster (CNN) • Tony Livesey (BBC)
CNN International • BBC Radio 5 Live • June 12, 2025
CNN (TV 6:05) • BBC 5 Live (audio 47:11)
Eurovision 2025 : de Barbara Pravi à Louane, comment la France a trouvé son identité musicale et quitté le fond du classement
Interviewer: Pierre Gordon
France Télévisions, May 17, 2025.
Link (in French)
How to win Eurovision, according to the experts
Interviewer: Samuel Spencer
BBC News, May 10, 2025.
Link
Is that really a best new artist? The long and complex tale of a controversial Grammy category
Interviewer: Mark Kennedy
The Washington Post / Associated Press, January 21, 2025.
Link
Adele’s alleged plagiarism in “Million Years Ago”
Interviewer: James Coomarasamy
The World Tonight, BBC Radio 4, December 18, 2024. Audio
Map Shows Favorite Christmas Songs in Every State
Interviewer: Jasmine Laws
Newsweek, November 22, 2024.
Link
Dynamic Pricing [in the Music Industry]
Interviewer: Jessica Dicklet
CNBC, Dec 4, 2024.
Link
Can great music signal an economic downturn?
Interviewer: Simone Del Rosario
Straight Arrow News, Sep 16, 2024.
TV broadcast video
“Songs and songwriting in political campaigns”
Interviewer: Hena Doba
Morning In America. Aug 19, 2024.
TV broadcast video
“Recession Pop”
Interviewer: Hannah Erin Lang
Marketwatch. Aug 9, 2024.
Link
After a National Anthem Flub, Singer Says She’s Going to Rehab
Interviewer: Rachel Sherman
The New York Times. July 16, 2024.
Link
AI and Artists’ Rights
Interviewer: Vladimir Duthiers
CBS TV. April 2, 2024.
TV broadcast video
AI and deepfakes
Interviewer: Victor Blackwell
CNN This Morning. Mar 24, 2024.
TV broadcast video
The evolution of song form
Interviewer: Larry Mantle (with Maura Johnston)
NPR (Los Angeles / KPCC). Feb 6, 2024.
Audio
Interrogating the myth of the quickly-written hit song
Interviewer: Andy Price
Musicradar. Jan 13, 2024.
Link
Analyzing ‘Let It Go’, 10 years on.
Interviewer: Ayomikun Adekaiyero
Business Insider. Dec 19, 2023.
Link
Does anyone care about the Christmas Number 1 any more?
Interviewer: Kirsty Blake Knox
Irish Independent. Dec 14, 2023.
Link
Why Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ became so popular — and stayed that way
Interviewer: David Bauder
Associated Press News. Dec 11, 2023.
Link
Eminem’s BMI takedown
Interviewer: Jen Crichton
Dubai Eye Radio. Aug 30, 2023.
Audio
How will AI change the music industry?
Interviewer: Matt Fortin
NBC TV Boston. June 5, 2023.
Link + video
‘A Sigh of Relief’: What Ed Sheeran’s Victory Means for the Future of Music Copyright Claims
Interviewer: Ethan Millman
Rolling Stone (USA). May 4, 2023.
Link
Plagiarism or just the basics of a pop song?
Interviewer: Madeleine Brand
NPR / KCRW (USA). May 1, 2023.
Link + audio
How familiar is too familiar: on music copyright infringement
Interviewer: Fauziah Ibrahim
ABC TV (Australia). April 30, 2023.
Video
Stolen or Original? Hear Songs From 7 Landmark Copyright Cases
Interviewer: Ben Sisario
The New York Times. April 27, 2023.
Link
Commonplace chord progressions in music copyright litigation
Interviewer: Georgia Tolley
Dubai Eye Radio (UAE). April 27, 2023
Audio
Ed Sheeran to face copyright trial in US over alleged similarities to Marvin Gaye song
Interviewer: Jackie Long
Channel 4 News (UK). October 1, 2022.
Link
Coincidence or theft? Rise of music streaming can make it hard to judge
Interviewer: Nadia Khomami, Arts & Culture correspondent @nadiakhomami
The Guardian (UK). April 6, 2022.
Link
Copyright Infringement and Songwriting
Interviewer: Colin Murray.
BBC Radio 5 Live (UK). March 17, 2022.
Link
Experts Compare Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” to Artikal Sound System’s “Live Your Life”
Interviewer: Delisa Shannon.
Rolling Stone (USA). March 4, 2022.
Link
Christmas Cheer for all to hear
Interviewer: Mary Hynes.
Tapestry, CBC Radio Calgary (Canada). December 17, 2021.
Link
Classic Christmas music… with local ties
Interviewer: Tiziana Dearing.
Radio Boston (USA). December 13, 2021.
Link
What Makes Christmas Music Sound … Christmassy?
Interviewer: Alex Palmer.
Discover Magazine (USA). Dec 15, 2021.
Link
Why Are Hit Songs 3 Minutes Long? A Musicologist Explains
Interviewer: Nik Zekevic.
NBC LX TV (USA). November 22, 2021.
Link
‘It’s Made People More Paranoid’: How Artists and Writers Are Covering Their Bases in the Post-’Blurred Lines’ Era of Interpolations
Interviewer: Kristin Robinson.
Billboard (USA). October 28, 2021.
Link
Adele Wrote Her Latest Album ‘30’ During a Divorce. Others Have Chronicled Breakups in Song.
Interviewer: Jennifer Calfas.
Wall Street Journal (USA). October 15, 2021.
Link
‘It’s Fan Fiction For Music’: Why Deepfake Vocals of Music Legends Are on the Rise
Interviewer: Thomas Hobbs.
Billboard (USA). July 6, 2021.
Link
A hit, a writ: why music is the food of plagiarism lawsuits
Interviewer: Michael Hann.
The Guardian (UK). March 26, 2020.
Link
Don’t play it again Sam, studios told amid plagiarism fears
Interviewer: Will Pavia.
The Times (UK). April 6, 2019.
Link
Interviewer: Ben Sisario.
The New York Times. March 31, 2019.
Link
Analysis and discussion of Hal Blaine’s drumming from Be My Baby
Interviewer: Isabel Fraser.
BBC Radio Scotland. March 16, 2019.
Audio
Is it Time to Pull Baby, it’s Cold Outside Out of the Christmas Song Rotation?
Panel discussion with Maura Johnston. Interviewer: Chris Citorik.
WBUR (NPR/Radio Boston). December 19, 2018.
Audio
The Beatles: the Evolutionary Science of Pop Music
Science Friction series. Discussion with Armand Leroi. Presenter: Natasha Mitchell.
ABC (Australian National Radio). December 16, 2017.
Link to summary | Full podcast (28 mins)
My my! How it became cool to like ABBA
Interviewer: Alice Vincent.
The Daily Telegraph (UK). December 12, 2017.
Link
Here Is the Happiest Christmas Song You Will Ever Hear
Interviewer: Dana Dovey
Newsweek (USA). December 10, 2017.
Link
Has pop finally run out of tunes?
Interviewer: Peter Robinson.
The Guardian (UK). April 13, 2017.
Link
Ed Sheeran may regret Photograph that led to $20m copyright case
Interviewer: Hannah Ellis-Peterson.
The Guardian (UK). April 12, 2017.
Link
Skater hoodies and steely ambition: the 6 secrets of Ed Sheeran’s success
Interviewer: Alice Vincent.
The Daily Telegraph (UK). March 7, 2017.
Link
How Do You Define a Musical Work?
Interviewers: Denise Howell and J. Michael Keys.
This Week in Law. Episode #369. December 9, 2016.
Link
What is a Forensic Musicologist?
Interviewer: Rachel Belle.
KIRO Radio. November 1, 2016.
Link to transcript
The Man Musicians Call When Two Tunes Sound Alike
With Peter Oxendale, Guy Protheroe, and Joe Bennett. Interviewer: Alex Marshall.
The New York Times. October 11, 2016.
Link
The Memorability of a Song Hook
Interviewer: Jamie East.
Virgin Radio. September 28, 2016.
Link to audio
The Millenial Whoop
Interviewer: Isabel Fraser.
BBC Radio Scotland. September 3, 2016.
Link to audio
What is Forensic Musicology?
Interviewer: Dino Sofos.
BBC News. Via Facebook Live. August 10, 2016.
Link to video
Popular music and the loss of anger
Interviewer: Lorraine Ali.
The Los Angeles Times. July 15, 2016.
Link
As Led Zeppelin Faces Copyright Charges, The Line Between Plagiarism and Homage Blurs
Interviewer: Scott Simon.
NPR Weekend Edition. 18 June, 2016.
Link
Interview about alleged Stairway to Heaven plagiarism
Interviewer: Jane Hill.
BBC News (television). 14 June, 2016.
Origin of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ questioned at copyright trial
Interview: Brian Melley.
Associated Press. 16 June, 2016.
Link
Interview about Ed Sheeran’s Photograph
Interviewer: Bill Whiteford.
BBC Radio Scotland. June 9, 2016.
Interview about Ed Sheeran’s Photograph and alleged similarity to Matt Cardle’s Amazing
Interviewer: Jamie East.
Virgin Radio (UK). June 9, 2016.
Feature on Forensic Musicology
Good Morning Scotland series. Interviewer: Laura Maxwell.
BBC Radio Scotland. April 16, 2016.
Interview about alleged Stairway to Heaven plagiarism
Afternoon Edition series. Interviewers: Sarah Brett and Ore Oduba.
BBC Radio 5 Live. April 12, 2016.
Link to audio
Why does Sam Smith’s Bond theme Writing’s on the Wall sound like Michael Jackson’s Earth Song?
The Daily Telegraph. September 25, 2015.
How to tell if a song’s been copied
Newsbeat series. Interviewer: Sinead Garvin.
BBC Radio 1. September 22, 2015.
Link
The history of Auto-Tune
The One Show series.
BBC Television. April 1, 2015
Link to video
5SOS’ ‘She’s Kinda Hot’ was kinda influenced by these 7 songs
Interviewer: Brenna Ehrlich.
MTV News. July 20, 2015.
Link
Blurred Lines verdict ‘a disaster’
The Irish Independent. March 11, 2015.
Link
How do I become a forensic musicologist?
Interviewer: Sandra Haurant.
The Guardian (UK). January 20, 2015.
Link
Why is ‘Uptown Funk’ so catchy? We asked an expert
Interviewer: Brenna Ehrlich.
MTV News. January 9, 2015.
Link
Panel discussion: Stairway to Heaven and Taurus
The Brendan Cole Programme.
Voice of Russia Radio. June 3, 2014.
Link to audio
Earworms—why do songs get stuck in our heads?
The Today Programme. With Professor Elizabeth Margulis (Princeton University).
BBC Radio 4. January 28, 2014.
Link to audio