The ARIAs and a trademark feud with Eminem no one saw coming

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The ARIAs and a trademark feud with Eminem no one saw coming

Independent Australia
06 Dec 2025, 10:30 GMT+

Its been a rough week with a number of brilliant musicians departing for the great gig in the sky. Music guruDavid Kowalskihas the latest.

Eminem and the beach umbrella

IN THE NEWS this week is a story from one of our favourite topics in the music world trademark infringement.

A small Australian independent beach accessorycompanyis in the crosshairs of the legal team of U.S. hip-hop starEminem. The company, that makes bags and swimwear, is in trouble with theU.S. Trademark and Copyright Officeover their business name and the name of their own unique style of beach umbrella, called the 'Swim Shady'.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has had a trademark reserved in the USA since the late 1990s for his alter-ego Slim Shady, which has been used inalbum titlesand used in various now well-knownsongs. Mathers has said that the Australian beachwear brands name is too close to his and has applied to register that Swim Shady infringes his trademark.

Perhaps he has a point. However, does a small company from Australia, the creators of whom clearly are making a nod towards one of their favourite artists have any recourse here? According toRolling Stone, Swim Shady had applied to register their trademark in the U.S. Trademark Office on September 23rd 2025, and on the 29th of the same month, Eminem lodged a protest. Perhaps the beachwear brand shouldve kept the name in Australia only and chosen something else in the USA, similar to howBurger KingandHungry Jackscannot co-exist in Australia for similar reasons.

Swim Shady have just about exhausted their 60 days to respond to Eminems legal team, however well keep watch on the outcome of the dispute

ARIA Awards wrap up

The2025 ARIA Awardshave been and gone for another year. An eventful night by all accounts, with some trulybizarre fashionon the red carpet. The bigwinnersof the night were Melbourne punksAmyl and the Sniffers, who took home four awards (Best Cover Art, Best Group, Best Rock Album and Album of the Year for their third albumCartoon Darkness). Up-and-coming EDM artistNinajirachiwon Best New Artist. Kevin Parker fromTame Impalawon a couple more spiky trophies for his mantlepiece with wins for Best Engineered release and Best Produced release for theEnd of Summersingle.Missy Higginswon Best Adult Contemporary Release for her albumThe Second Act. Probably the biggest upset of the night wasEmma Memmawinning Best Childrens Album over her former employersThe Wiggles.

You Am Iwere inducted into the Hall of Fame and Tim Rogers gave an emotional, often tearyspeech.

He spoke candidly about his health issues, mental and otherwise:

I extend my congratulations to all the winners.

The passings of Mani, Ian Lees and Jimmy Cliff, Todd Snider

Its been a rough week with a number of brilliant musicians departing for the great gig in the sky. We have lostIan Lees, who may be a name many are unfamiliar with. Lees was the bass player inMoving Picturesin the 1980s when the band were at the peak of their powers, playing on their hits likeWhat About Meand Bustin Loose. He also played in theKevin Borich Express,The Mal Eastick Band, and he was also an indispensable member of the backing bands for Country artistsJames BlundellandMelinda Schneider.

We also lost another bass player in the form of Gary Mounfield, aka Mani, from Manchester legends TheStone Roses, at the age of 63. He anchored the bottom end on many of the groups classic rock-meets-dancefloor anthems such as Fools Gold andWhat The World Is Waiting For. After the Roses split up in 1995, he was also a member ofPrimal Screamuntil they split in 2011.

Reggae legendJimmy Cliffalso passed away, at the age of 81 in hospital in Jamaica. He was a vital part of the Jamaican music scene, and helped break Reggae as an international music sensation. He also starred in the first Jamaican feature film, 1972sThe Harder They Comeand sang many classic songs from its soundtrack, such as the title track,Many Rivers to CrossandYou Can Get It If You Really Want.

Last but certainly not least is Georgia (U.S.) American musicianTodd Snider. While he didnt necessarily have massive global recognition, those who knew his work loved it. He had a brief flash of success in Australia in 1995 with his albumSongs From The Daily Planet. Snider was the first, and I think only, artist to land a song intoTriple Js Hottest 100in 1995 that was an unlisted track on an album 'Talking Seattle Grunge Blues'. Snider was signed toJimmy Buffetts labelMargaritavilleand was regarded as an heir to the folk storytelling tradition ofJohn Prine.

Thanks to each of them for their amazing contribution to music. Vale.

New music: 'Houston' by Lucky

Before I go, here is a new banger from a Melbourne-based artist namedLucky. She has been doing the rounds for about 18 months and her latest single 'Houston' has some major indie vibes, channelling some of the darker sounds of theCranberriesand even some shoegaze feels from the likes ofRide. It is a lot moodier than previous singles, however it still has a very raw vulnerability about it.

Shes playing at the Vic on the Park in Sydney on 6 December. Give her a listen.

Until next time

LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S SPECIALLY CURATED PLAYLIST BELOW:

David Kowalskiis a writer, musician, educator, sound engineer and podcaster. His podcasts 'The Sound and the Fury Podcast' and 'Audio Cumulus' can be heard exclusivelyHERE. You can follow David/X@sound_fury_pod.