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Bad news for the current queen of the UK album and single charts: Madonna's 1998 hit 'Frozen' is the product of straight-up plagiarism according to courts in Belgium.
Belgian songwriter Salvatore Acquaviva had previously remarked to Madonna's people that there was a major similarity between the song and a composition of her own, but the major label suits were unmoved and subsequently said nothing. So, Acquaviva went to court, and her claim of plagiarism was upheld.The result of the court's decision is that EMI, Sony and Warner Music must withdraw Madonna's song from sale to the public, in Belgium at least, and they must also prevent it being aired on Belgian television and radio. Its parent album, Ray Of Light, is also to be withdrawn from shelves in the European country.
Not a whisper has come forth from Madonna's camp on the matter, but Victor-Vincent Dehin, lawyer for Acquaviva, said: "They have stolen a song, so they have to pay the value of the song."
That value? 100,000 euros, or £68,000, which seems like nothing considering what Madonna herself must have earned from the song. The money need only be handed over if the labels in question fail to obey the ruling within 15 days.
