George Ezra forced to pay out royalties from number-one hit Shotgun to little-known singer who accused him of copying

GEORGE Ezra has been forced to pay royalties from his smash-hit Shotgun after a little-known singer accused him of copying the tune.

Derek Ryan gets seven-and-a-half per cent of the income from the tune — last year’s third best-selling song.

The settlement came after Irish singer Derek, 35, said the song was similar to his 2014 tune Flowers In Your Hair.

Millionaire George, 25, insisted he had never heard of Derek’s song before penning Shotgun in a Barcelona apartment.

But his lawyers agreed to pay Derek royalties in a secret deal.

A source said: “Shotgun put George back on the map, going three times Platinum in the UK and pretty much earning him his Best Male Brit.

“Label bosses acknowledged a section of Shotgun has a similarity to the chorus melody of ‘Flowers’.”
Country singer Derek released his tenth record last year.

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