Charlie Wilson

R&B singer Charlie Wilson, the lead singer of rhythm and blues group The Gap Band, has sued EMI Music and Heineken for using a song he recorded with hip hop artist Pharrell Williams in a commercial without his permission. Wilson filed the suit in Manhattan Federal Court, claiming that Capitol Records, the American label of EMI, and the American division of Dutch brewer Heineken used the song “Beautiful” in an advertising campaign for Heineken Premium Light Beer. Portions of the recording of “Beautiful” featuring vocal performances by Wilson and rapper Pharrell Williams were licensed by Capitol Records for the commercial without permission, the suit said. The advertisement was shown on national television as well as Heineken’s, the suit said. Wilson also accuses EMI for not paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits gained for “Beautiful” and for another song “You've Got What I Want,” which Wilson recorded with rappers Snoop Dogg, Jelly Roll, Ludacris and Goldie Loc.