December 26, 2024

Skylight Webzine

Online since 2000

The new band of the actress Scarlett Johansson is having legal issues


Los Angeles pop/rock band The Singles have hired legal counsel following the release of a single, “Candy,” by Scarlett Johansson, Holly Miranda, Kendra Morris, Julia Haltigan, and Este Haim, using the same band name, “The Singles.” A cease and desist demand has been issued by The Singles’ lawyer to the representatives for Johansson and the new all-girl group, alleging trademark infringement and a variety of other legal claims.
Founded by Vincent Frederick, The Singles have been continuously making music, recording, touring, and using the band name “The Singles” since 1999. With an extensive discography that spans nearly two decades, The Singles have produced a full repertoire of LPs, EPs, singles and tracks over the years, and have toured across the nation and internationally, playing approximately 100 shows in 2014 alone. The Singles’ videos on YouTube have been viewed more than 75,000 times.
The Singles’ lead/frontman Frederick was surprised to hear about the release of “Candy” by Johansson and the other members of the girl group using the name “The Singles.” “I woke up one morning and learned from the news that our band name was literally just taken by someone else as their own.  It’s hard to believe that any musician would do something like that to another band,” said Frederick. “The Singles has been my life for the past 16 years. We have worked so incredibly hard to make it a success.”
Since “Candy” debuted on February 20, 2015, fans online and across social media have expressed surprise and confusion over the release of the song and why Scarlett Johansson, Holly Miranda, Kendra Morris, Julia Haltigan, and Este Haim released the single using the band’s name, instead of picking a new band name not already in use. “I don’t understand it,” said Frederick. “Our band, The Singles, has an account on nearly all social media sites and our music is available in record shops, on iTunes, SoundCloud, and other websites. Just a simple search on Google would have revealed that ‘The Singles’ was already a band name being used by another pop/rock band – our band.”
The Singles’ legal counsel has issued a demand to representatives for Johansson and the new all-girl group demanding that they halt using the name “The Singles,” any further, and that The Singles will consider legal action if a resolution is not reached.