Music L.A.A. sues Savannah Bananas owner over drum composition in TikTok videos

What was filed

The complaint is Document 1 in Music L.A.A. v. Fans First Entertainment, LLC, No. 3:26-cv-01682 (M.D. Tenn.), filed October 23, 2026 and dated October 19, 2026. It runs 11 pages. The defendants are Fans First Entertainment, LLC, d/b/a The Savannah Bananas; John Doe 1, professionally known as "The Glove Magician"; and Does 2 to 10. The complaint is signed by Hal Burke of Scheer, Green and Burke LPA in Toledo, Ohio. Jurisdiction is pleaded under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a), and venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400(a). For personal jurisdiction, it alleges that Fans First scheduled, advertised, and sold tickets to Savannah Bananas games in the district and used its April 24, 2026 video to promote its tour and games there. The plaintiff demands a jury. The case is assigned to Judge William Lynn Campbell Jr. and referred to Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley, and an initial case management conference by telephone is set for March 2, 2027 before Magistrate Judge Frensley. (Compl. paras. 11 to 13; pp. 1, 11; Dkt. 5.)

The parties and the work

The complaint describes Music L.A.A. as a music publishing company that owns, administers, and licenses copyrights in musical compositions. It alleges that Fans First owns and operates the Savannah Bananas, with its principal place of business in Savannah, Georgia, and controls the Bananas' official TikTok account, @thesavbananas, and that John Doe 1 is a performer featured by the Savannah Bananas who operates the TikTok account @theglovemagician. It alleges that "Boo (original drum composition)" is an original musical composition registered as No. PA 2-569-090, effective January 26, 2026, and that the certificate identifies Music L.A.A. as claimant by written transfer from the author. (Compl. paras. 1, 6 to 8, 14 to 17.)

What the complaint alleges

It alleges that on or about December 30, 2025, the Glove Magician published a TikTok video recorded on the field at the Bananas' home stadium, under signage reading "Home of the Savannah Bananas," that reproduces and is synchronized with the work, and alleges, on information and belief, that the work was played over the stadium's sound system under Fans First's control. It alleges that on or about April 24, 2026, nearly three months after the registration's effective date, Fans First published a second video on @thesavbananas using the work, that it did not select the work from any TikTok licensed music library, and that it uploaded the audio itself and labeled it as the Savannah Bananas' own sound, making it available for any TikTok user to reuse under the Bananas' name. (Compl. paras. 24 to 33.)

The complaint alleges that the plaintiff sent written notice to Fans First on August 24, 2026, offered on August 28, 2026 to resolve the matter through a retroactive synchronization license, and that on September 2, 2026 Fans First's counsel refused to identify any license or make any proposal and said Fans First would not engage in further correspondence. It alleges that both videos and the uploaded sound remained available on TikTok when the complaint was filed and that the infringement is willful. (Compl. paras. 36 to 40.)

Counts and relief

Count I alleges direct infringement under 17 U.S.C. 106 and 501 through the April 2026 video, against Fans First and Does 2 to 10. Count II alleges direct infringement through the December 2025 video against the Glove Magician, Fans First, and Does 2 to 10, alleging, on information and belief, that Fans First jointly participated in creating it. Count III alleges contributory infringement and Count IV vicarious infringement, each against Fans First and Does 2 to 10. Count V alleges that Fans First and Does 2 to 10 knowingly provided and distributed false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202(a) by identifying the audio as the Savannah Bananas' own sound. (Compl. paras. 41 to 64.)

The plaintiff seeks a declaration of willful infringement and of a violation of 17 U.S.C. 1202; preliminary and permanent injunctions under 17 U.S.C. 502 and 1203(b)(1), including removal of both videos and the TikTok sound page attributing the work to the Savannah Bananas; impoundment and destruction under 17 U.S.C. 503; an accounting; actual damages and profits under 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or, at its election, the maximum statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504(c), enhanced for willfulness; up to $25,000 for each violation of 17 U.S.C. 1202 under 17 U.S.C. 1203(c); costs and attorney's fees under 17 U.S.C. 505 and 1203(b)(4) and (5); and interest. For the December 2025 video, it seeks statutory damages and attorney's fees to the extent 17 U.S.C. 412, 504(c), and 505 permit. (Compl. paras. 46, 51, 64; p. 10.)

Registration record

The Copyright Office public catalog lists both the work's author and Music LAA, by transfer by written agreement, as claimants of registration PA0002569090 for "Boo (original drum composition)."