Crush 40’s Johnny Gioeli Files Lawsuit Against SEGA Over ‘Live and Learn’ Royalties

Crush 40’s Johnny Gioeli Files Lawsuit Against SEGA Over ‘Live and Learn’ Royalties Crush 40’s Johnny Gioeli, renowned for his vocal work on the iconic Sonic Adventure 2 song ‘Live and Learn’, has initiated legal action against SEGA of America.

The musician alleges breach of contract regarding the song’s continued use across the Sonic franchise since its debut on the Dreamcast in 2001.

According to legal documents filed earlier this month with the District Court of Southern California, Gioeli claims SEGA overstepped their rights by reusing the track repeatedly in subsequent games and media, without appropriate compensation or consent. Gioeli argues that while SEGA holds rights to the song’s lyrics, the master recording’s ownership remains under his control.

Collaborating with SEGA composer Jun Senoue as part of Crush 40 (formerly known as Sons of Angels), Gioeli states he was solely responsible for producing the original recording, overseeing arrangements, vocal performances, and guiding the recording process.

Legal filings emphasize that Gioeli has consistently “maintained and registered” the song with licensing agency BMI and is officially co-credited as a writer alongside Senoue. The lawsuit asserts that Gioeli was never informed of ‘Live and Learn’ being re-used in major releases like Super Smash Bros.

Brawl for Nintendo Switch, Sonic X Shadow Generations, or Sonic Frontiers.

Unaware of these instances until fans brought them to his attention, Gioeli contends he has not received proper royalty payments for the last 23 years.

Legal counsel is seeking damages of no less than $500,000 for both breach of contract and unpaid royalties. Gioeli did confirm, however, that he gave express permission to Paramount Pictures for ‘Live and Learn’ to appear in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film, slated for release worldwide on December 20th, 2023.

In a statement delivered to Polygon, Gioeli maintained his respect for SEGA and the community, remarking, “My hope is that our longstanding relationship—built on the shared love of music and the Sonic franchise—remains intact.

Above all, I want fans to remember the great times we’ve had with this music, and I am optimistic we can resolve this in a way that is fair for all parties.” This high-profile lawsuit brings renewed attention to issues of copyright and compensation in the gaming industry, as music becomes an integral part of legacy titles and cross-media adaptations.

As Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits cinemas and the Sonic series continues on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and SEGA’s eShop, the outcome of the lawsuit may set a significant precedent for how game developers manage music rights and royalty payments moving forward.

Stay tuned as we monitor developments in the case and the ongoing celebration of Sonic’s enduring musical legacy.

SEGA Crush 40 Sonic Adventure 2 Live and Learn Sonic Adventure Sonic Johnny Gioeli