Blurred Lines: When Two Artists Share the Same Beat.
When two artists share the same beat, who really owns the sound? Inside the blurred lines of music production, licensing, and creative overlap.
In the ever-evolving world of music, few things spark curiosity quite like two artists releasing songs that sound eerily alike. It’s not always about imitation or sampling, it’s often about access, licensing, and the hidden complexity behind who truly owns a beat.
That’s exactly the case with two soulful releases: Joyce Wrice’s “Blurred Lines” (2018) and Tiyon “TC” Mack’s “Miss Me” (2020). Both records share the same smooth, hypnotic instrumental foundation, yet they exist as entirely separate works. Wrice’s track debuted as a single under her own creative direction, while TC Mack’s version appeared two years later as part of his album release.
At first listen, it’s enough to make any fan wonder: who had it first? And more importantly, who owns it now?
The Beat Behind the Mystery
In Joyce Wrice’s credits, Shawn Butler is listed as producer and songwriter alongside Wrice herself. In Tiyon “TC” Mack’s version, the production credits shift entirely, Johnny Thomas Jr. Chad “C-Note” Roper, and others are listed, with no overlap between teams.
Photography curtesy of Mel B. Elder
This lack of shared credits implies one of three common industry situations:
1. A Non-Exclusive Beat Lease — A producer may sell or lease a beat to multiple artists. Each artist can legally release a different song using that instrumental.
2. Recreation or Remake — Another producer may have re-created the beat from scratch, resulting in a “soundalike” version that’s not technically infringing.
3. Sample Miscommunication — The same sample or melodic loop may have been used by two separate producers from a royalty-free pack or public sound library.
In today’s music economy, these blurred lines are more common than most listeners realize. Beat marketplaces, YouTube producers, and sample libraries make it possible for dozens of artists to unknowingly share sonic DNA across entirely different records.
The Legal Gray Area
Legally, ownership comes down to contracts and registration. The producer who created the instrumental typically owns the master production rights until they’re sold exclusively. Once an artist or label purchases exclusive rights, the beat can’t be legally used again.
If a beat was leased non-exclusively before exclusivity was granted, it can exist in multiple songs, perfectly legal, even if confusing to fans.
Without evidence of sampling or identical stems, both Wrice and TC Mack’s versions likely exist under separate, legitimate agreements.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond legalities, there’s a deeper truth: music today thrives on collaboration, reinterpretation, and shared inspiration. Two artists can use the same beat and still tell completely different emotional stories.
While ownership defines the business, creativity defines the art, and sometimes, those worlds collide beautifully in a blur.