NewJeans’ hit song “How Sweet” is once again at the center of controversy after Dispatch published an in-depth report examining plagiarism allegations raised by four American songwriters, who claim the track unlawfully borrowed from their unreleased song “One of a Kind.”

To illustrate the claims, Dispatch first presented audio clips of the two songs without revealing their titles, inviting listeners to compare the melodies objectively. The outlet later released a second comparison that included the musical notation and song names, arguing that the disputed sections share the same sequence of notes.

According to Dispatch’s analysis, the melody in the contested passages follows an identical note progression in both songs, with matching rhythmic patterns and phrasing. The report suggests that these similarities go beyond a general musical style and involve specific melodic structures.

The controversy carries additional attention because it comes after former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin publicly accused BELIFT LAB in 2024 of copying NewJeans’ creative identity through ILLIT. At the time, she argued that elements including the group’s concept, album design, and signature choreography had been imitated without permission.

Ironically, “How Sweet,” which was released shortly after those accusations, is now facing its own copyright dispute. Four U.S.-based producers and songwriters have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against HYBE, ADOR, NewJeans, BANA, 250, and other parties involved in the song’s production.

Dispatch reported that it obtained a copy of the complaint and also communicated with the plaintiffs’ legal representative while independently comparing the two songs.

According to the plaintiffs’ attorney, the four writers Adam, Aidan, Audrey, and Michael were shocked after discovering what they believe is an unauthorized use of their original composition.

The report also detailed how “How Sweet” was allegedly developed. BANA reportedly sent an instrumental track to U.S.-based music publisher Pulse Music and requested that a songwriting team create a topline melody. Songwriter Audrey Amacost then collaborated with Aidan Rodriguez, Michael Campanelli, and Adam Gokcebay to produce the vocal melody before submitting it through Pulse.

However, BANA later informed the writers that the topline would not be used.

According to Dispatch, the writers received a message stating that although BANA liked the topline, it had ultimately decided against including it in the final project.

Several months later, when “How Sweet” was released, the four songwriters claimed they immediately recognized what they believed to be their own melody in the finished track.

Dispatch’s musical comparison focused on specific sections of “One of a Kind” and “How Sweet,” noting that both songs share the same key of B-flat minor, identical tempo of 125 BPM, matching rhythmic structure, and nearly identical melodic progression.

The report emphasized that while tempo and key could reasonably be attributed to the instrumental provided to multiple writers, the plaintiffs argue that the similarity lies in the topline melody itself. Dispatch highlighted identical note sequences, repeated rhythmic accents, and the use of an uncommon tension note outside the natural B-flat minor scale, arguing that the combination would be difficult to dismiss as coincidence.

A Korean music expert cited by Dispatch reportedly stated that matching melody, rhythm, note lengths, and harmonic tension across the disputed passages would be highly unusual and unlikely to occur independently.

The report also examined BANA CEO Kim Ki Hyun, who previously worked closely with Min Hee Jin on NewJeans’ music and A&R. Dispatch noted that Kim oversaw the song sourcing process and that, according to the lawsuit, he had received the plaintiffs’ submission before “How Sweet” entered production.

The outlet also revisited Min Hee Jin’s previous legal statements regarding Kim Ki Hyun. During earlier litigation involving HYBE, she denied giving him preferential treatment, explaining that his compensation reflected the value of his work rather than personal favoritism.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs argue that Kim Ki Hyun could not have been unaware of their submission because he personally received it during the sourcing process. They also referenced Min Hee Jin’s earlier comments describing Kim as a central figure behind NewJeans’ music production.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Trevor Barrett, told Dispatch that his clients were deeply disappointed by what they consider a clear appropriation of their work and hope the legal process will properly protect their rights.

Despite the legal dispute, “How Sweet” has remained commercially successful, selling more than 1.3 million copies as of June 2026. The song also reached No. 15 on the Billboard Global 200 and was included in Rolling Stone’s “100 Best Songs of 2024.”

When contacted by Dispatch, ADOR issued a brief response, stating that “How Sweet” was sourced through BANA and that the company is currently reviewing the results of the audio similarity evaluation conducted during the production process.

Dispatch reported that neither BANA nor OOAK Records responded to requests for comment before publication. The lawsuit remains ongoing, and no court has yet ruled on the plagiarism allegations.

Sources: Nate