You could say Marshall Jefferson is the Elvis Presley of house music. In the ‘80s, he came out with the house music anthem, “Move Your Body,” which blasted in clubs everywhere. Jefferson was signed to legendary house music label Trax Records. Since the label co-founder Larry Sherman passed away in April, Jefferson has been arguing about control of his music.

Jason Chaos, a NY DJ, influencer and trend setter had approached the publishers of Move Your Body, Rachael Cain and the Larry Sherman Estate (also owners of TRAX Records), for a compulsory license to record his version of Move Your Body. A compulsory license lets a musician, like Jason Chaos record and sell a rendition of a previously recorded song by paying royalties to the copyright holder of the track, in this case Move Your Body. This exception to the copyright rule allows Jason Chaos to legally release his new recording of Move Your Body without Marshall Jefferson’s or his publishers’ permission (Rachael and Larry). The purpose behind this exception to the copyright law is to foster creativity and allow indie artists, like Jason Chaos, the freedom to create new versions of popular music.

TRAX Records cannot stop Jason from covering Moving Your Body, but TRAX is refusing to release the Chaos version of “Move Your Body” on its label, TRAX Records. Rachael Cain had stated “we would love to release the Jason Chaos recording of Move Your Body.

Jason is an artist and DJ and this record should be on TRAX Records.

But we said no to Jason. To release it on TRAX would only exasperate the already strained relationship with Marshall”.

With Sherman gone, Marshall Jefferson has been trying to get his rights back from music that he signed away in the ‘80s. Jefferson has also involved his friend Maurice Joshua a Grammy winner and featured artist of the song (“This is Acid”) and their communication and social media has been extremely hostile. Marshall has threatened to sue over this matter and TRAX has yet to release an official statement.

To make matters worse, Rachael covered Jefferson's “Move Your Body” using the master recording she owns in a COVID-themed rendition, which angered Marshall. He claimed no one should cover the song because “the kids love it.” Jason, a friend of Rachael’s, invited Marshall onto his Instagram Live to discuss the cover of the song but Marshall refused to join him.

Jason Chaos said: “every artist should want their songs covered. It is totally legal to do so and the original author will receive royalties on the new version. This is done every day and only ensures that the composition lives on. Rachael thought it would be a good idea for Chaos to do a cover version of “Move Your Body,” but Marshall Jefferson wouldn’t agree to it. Because of all the controversy, music and art is constrained by this business of music. The cover of Move Your Body might have to be released on another label, but only time will tell. But my version will be released and I hope it will be on TRAX.”

Don’t step on Marshall’s blue suede shoes!