Atlantic Records Responds to Southstar’s ‘Copycat’ Claims Over ‘Miss You’

Atlantic Records has shut down Southstar’s claims that Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz’s version “Miss You” is a copy.

Two versions of “Miss You” are currently working their way up charts around the globe. One, recorded by Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz, another by rising German producer Southstar (real name Leon Kirschnek).

As previously reported, Schulz’s “version was identified as a 1:1 direct copy of Southstar’s under the same name, same sample and same production, demonstrating Schulz’ attempt to take the credit and direct support away from Southstar’s breakout record instead of championing the next generation of talent,” reads a statement issued by Sony Music.

“With the unfortunate benefit of already having a working relationship, Robin’s team were able to get the approval from Oliver Tree’s camp to become a main artist on his copycat version.”

A reworking of  Tree’s “Jerk,” Southstar’s “Miss You” had its publishing rights cleared with the three authors of “Jerk,” including Tree, the Berlin producer reckons, “allowing me to release my reworked version of ‘Jerk’ called ‘Miss You’. And contrary to some rumours circulating online, I never sold this rework or my production.”

Southstar said in a statement issued late August, it’s “disappointing for me to see that an exact copy of my rework ‘Miss You’ is up under the name of another famous producer, and is even being perceived as the original version instead of mine.”

Those claims are wide of the mark, claims Atlantic Records, which released the version by Tree and Schulz.

“Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz’s version of ‘Miss You’ is the definitive version of the song that uses both the recording and underlying composition from Oliver Tree’s original track ‘Jerk,’” reads a statement from a spokesperson for Atlantic Records U.S.

“Southstar remixed ‘Jerk’ without permission and then released a version with re-recorded vocals to avoid fully compensating Oliver Tree and his label.”

The back-and-forth comes as both songs duke it out on the charts.

On this week’s Official U.K. Singles Chart, Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz’ “Miss You” (Atlantic) explodes 28-9, while Southstar’s “Miss You” (via B1 Ministry of Sound) soars 62-23.

Tree and Schulz’s version blasts 52-4 on the current ARIA Singles Chart.