ADOR Reviews NewJeans ‘How Sweet’ Song Sourcing After Plagiarism Claim

ADOR is reviewing internal records connected to NewJeans’ 2024 single How Sweet after renewed plagiarism allegations placed the song’s sourcing process back under scrutiny.

According to Korean reports published on July 10, the label said the disputed track was obtained through BANA, Beasts And Natives Alike, which had been selected while Min Hee-jin was ADOR’s chief executive. ADOR said it is examining whether similarity checks and related review steps were properly carried out at the time. The statement does not concede wrongdoing, but it marks a more detailed explanation of how the company is looking at the song’s path into the NewJeans catalog.

The issue centers on claims attributed to four U.S.-based producers and singer-songwriters, including Audrey Armacost. Reports citing Dispatch said the group filed a copyright infringement complaint over alleged similarities between How Sweet and a demo titled One of a Kind. The reported defendants include HYBE, ADOR, NewJeans, BANA, producer 250 and Min, placing the dispute across both creative and corporate layers of the song’s release.

As described in the reports, BANA allegedly received an instrumental track through the U.S. publisher Pulse Music and requested topline work. The four creators are said to have delivered a topline for consideration, but that version was not chosen during the production process. Their claim is that core elements of that rejected work later appeared in How Sweet, which NewJeans released in May 2024.

Why The Sourcing Question Matters

Topline writing is often one of the most collaborative parts of pop production. A topline can include melody, lyrical phrasing and vocal structure, and several versions may be tested before a final recording is approved. Because those ideas can pass between publishers, labels, producers and outside writers, disputes over what was submitted, rejected or later reused can become complicated quickly. ADOR’s reference to internal materials suggests the label is looking not only at the finished track, but also at the documentation behind how the song was acquired and evaluated.

The production credits cited in Korean coverage have drawn additional attention. Reports note that Min was listed as executive producer on the released track, while BANA’s Kim Ki-hyun was connected to A&R responsibilities. Those details matter because copyright disputes in pop music often hinge on who had access to earlier material, who handled submissions and what review procedures existed before the final song was released.

ADOR has previously said that, after checking with BANA, the production side denied plagiarism and the company and members would respond to the lawsuit in line with that position. The latest statement adds that ADOR is now reviewing whether the prior similarity-check process was properly handled. That leaves the public with two parallel points: the company is still not admitting copying, but it is also acknowledging that the process behind the song deserves internal examination.

A High-Profile Track Under Renewed Scrutiny

How Sweet was released in May 2024 and became one of NewJeans’ major singles during a turbulent period for ADOR and HYBE. Korean reports describe the song as a Miami bass-based track with bright electro-pop energy, and note that it performed strongly after release, including a Billboard Global 200 peak at No. 18. Its profile means the dispute is not limited to a niche catalog matter; it touches one of the group’s most visible releases.

The timing also keeps attention on ADOR’s broader governance history. NewJeans’ recent years have been closely watched because of the public conflict involving HYBE, ADOR and Min. A copyright complaint connected to a single released during that period adds another layer of pressure, especially because the statement now points back to decisions made under the former leadership structure.

For fans, the most important distinction is that a reported lawsuit and a public allegation are not the same as a legal finding. The questions now are evidentiary: how similar the materials are, whether the plaintiffs can show protectable expression, whether the defendants had access to the demo, and what documents exist from the song selection process. Until those questions are tested, the dispute remains unresolved.

For the K-pop industry, the case is a reminder that global songwriting pipelines bring both creative range and legal exposure. Major releases often involve teams spread across countries, publishers and labels. When a song becomes successful, every early version, rejected demo and email trail can become important. ADOR’s internal review may clarify how How Sweet moved from production pitch to finished single, but the broader issue is likely to remain under close watch as the legal process continues.