G.E.M Gloria Shuts Down Former Label’s Legal Threats Over Rerecorded Songs

G.E.M to Hummingbird: Pay Me First Before Throwing Lawsuits (Instagram)

Hong Kong pop queen Gloria Tang Sze-wing a.k.a G.E.M is making it loud and clear — she's not backing down when it comes to her right to rerecord and release her own songs. In the latest twist of the long-running saga between GEM and her former label Hummingbird Music, the singer has responded to fresh legal threats with calm confidence... and receipts.

Hummingbird dropped a statement accusing G.E.M of breaching copyright laws by releasing rerecorded versions of her earlier songs as part of her new album I AM GLORIA. 

According to them, the company still holds the recording producer’s rights and copyright over the lyrics and compositions, giving GEM just 48 hours to remove the tracks or face legal action.

But G.E.M, never one to shy away from speaking her truth, quickly fired back. She posted a formal response via her own company, reminding the public that she had entrusted the dissemination rights of her works to CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong) long before Hummingbird even entered the picture.

Taking to Instagram to explain in her own words, G.E.M wrote,

“After talking to my team of lawyers, we all laughed helplessly. Actually, I don’t know what else I have to respond to because the legal basis for my re-recording is very sufficient.”

She clarified that all rerecordings were made with proper legal approval and that the required royalties were paid according to local regulations.

“The broadcast rights to all of my works have been managed by the CASH Association since I was 14 years old (before I met Hummingbird), so these re-recorded versions are legally available worldwide. Therefore, I won’t be taking down the songs.”

But that’s not all — G.E.M also flipped the script and reminded Hummingbird that they haven’t exactly been squeaky clean either.

In a cheeky but pointed remark, she added,

“Also, can you settle the lawful service fees for the approximately six months before my contract termination in 2019, which also have not been paid to this day? Much appreciated, thank you.”

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A post shared by G.E.M.鄧紫棋 (@gem0816)

She also claimed that royalties from as far back as October 2018 are still owed to her, turning the spotlight back on the label’s own alleged violations.

Fans rallied behind her instantly, praising G.E.M for standing her ground and defending her creative rights. Many see this move as part of a larger trend — artists reclaiming control over their own catalogues, much like Taylor Swift did with her rerecorded Taylor’s Version albums.

Whether Hummingbird will actually push forward with legal action remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: G.E.M’s not rattled, and she's got both the law and the fans on her side.