The country-music singer and songwriter who caused a viral news sensation earlier this year with his catchy song immortalizing the beauty and brains of the female broadcasters on Fox News now says the Arab TV network Al Jazeera is stealing "The Girls On Fox News," and is trying to make money off it.
"I recently checked my YouTube account settings and found that someone had a 'third-party match' content ID claim made against me and my song," songwriter Austin Cunningham told WND.
"I couldn't believe what I found. The claim came from none other than Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera! They made a false claim against me and, of course, YouTube says that they could remove my video or even terminate my YouTube account if they side with Al Jazeera."
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Cunningham says he personally investigated to get to the bottom of what happened.
"The facts are that Al Jazeera used my video for their 'Video of the Week' on a show called the 'Listening Post,'" he explained.
"They used my song on June 1st and shortly after, I found out my [YouTube] account was on notice of possible termination. I uploaded my song/video on Feb. 1st of this year. YouTube says that it could be a song playing in the background of my video. Of course, this is completely false. The only song used in the video is one that I wrote. I also publish and administer 100 percent of the writer portion and publishing rights on the song. I have also checked with my video editor about any visual footage and NONE were pulled from Al Jazeera and ALL are in compliance with the standard YouTube license.
"They used MY video, then made a false claim to YouTube that I was unlawfully using theirs!" Cunningham exclaimed in disbelief.
(Watch Al Jazeera host Richard Gizbert's coverage of "The Girls on Fox News" song:)
The songwriter, a native of Garland, Texas, who now splits his time between McKinney, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn., says there's an even more disturbing surprise.
"[Something] which shows unknown but unethical, if not illegal intent, they changed my account settings and monetized the video and began profiting from it. Unbelievable to me," Cunningham lamented. "Also, they unchecked almost all of the tags I had attached to the song to help promote it. Again, unbelievable."
Cunningham says he sent an e-mail via the Al Jazeera website two weeks ago to cease and/or retract their claim made against him, but he hasn't heard a peep from them.
"Interestingly, while trying to find how to contact Al Jazeera via e-mail, I noticed it's much easier to connect with Hamas, (on their website), than it is to contact [Al Jazeera]."
The singer has disputed the claim with YouTube, and is waiting to hear some kind of response.
"My biggest platform for promoting my music is YouTube and all I have is my good standing with them," he said.
Cunningham says he's totally perplexed by what's happening, telling WND: "How could Al Jazeera make this claim knowing they have used my video? And why is YouTube's policy to just allow Al Jazeera to have access to my acct and make changes, delete tags that attract viewers, and also monetize it to their advantage? All at my expense and then threaten to take my video down if they side with Al Jazeera. All this before I can even dispute the claim."
On Cunningham's Facebook page, the singer is receiving messages of sympathy and encouragement, including:
- "Did you at least get a royalty check? Al Jazeera, Who knew they liked country music? Lol. I don't know if there is anything in the Quran about stealing." (Jimiandsin Shell)
- "I know your trying to make music in the money biz but don't forget; there is no such thing as bad publicity." (Kevin O'Donnell)
- "There's another song in you about this, let the creative juices flow!" (Jerry Meyer)
Watch and listen to Cunningham's original song by clicking on the video below:
"The Girls On Fox News" song starts off with a true-to-life description of what happened to Cunningham:
Well I used to be a Democrat, Liberal no doubt
I didn't think Conservatives knew what life's about
Then I started leaving the Fox News channel on.
If that's the face of the right, I'll tell the left so long.
The song is not on an any album yet, but can be purchased on iTunes, and the YouTube video of the song has skyrocketed to more than 1.2 million views hits since March.
As WND reported, the song and video erupted into a "vicious" war of words online, saddening Cunningham at the time.
The song is upbeat and replete with jokes, including a catchy chorus proclaiming:
Oh, I want a girl like the girls on Fox News
Everyone is beautiful, anyone you choose
Whoever does the hiring knows how to light my fuse
I want a girl like the girls on Fox News.
But once awareness of the song spread across the nation, Cunningham says the political left kicked into high gear, posting "all these polarizing, politicized and vicious comments."
"In the beginning when the song first took off," he told WND, "the comments were mostly positive and people were loving it and sharing it, which is why it starting going viral. As it gained popularity, it seems the haters showed up and weighed in more and more, demonizing the song, the women and completely judging them as unintelligent simply because they are beautiful. Many were weighing in that the song was a parody, or satire and that I was making fun of the women and couldn't possibly just be complimenting them."
Some of the harsh comments which we can print here include:
- "'The Girls on Fox News' song would be like writing a song about the women of the KKK." (Cesar Perez)
- "They are typical American pig women with 5 layers of make-up and a can of hair spray in their hair. It is just sad." (sirikwan11)
- "Sex always sells. What can you say? This is America and men are still led around by the lower part of their anatomy." (Shelly Martin-Hester)
- "They all look like porno stars. That's not a good thing for a supposed 'News' corporation." (Silberdachs)
- "Token, air-headed eye candy, that's all they are and were meant to be on Fox." (Lyiad)
- "Online you can find cleavage shots, bikini photos, ridiculously low-cut shorts on all of them, and even them posing sexually. All taken from Fox News. Isn't this discrimination? Could the people who pick these girls possibly be the biggest tools out there?" (AlexanderMccarthey87)
A poster named WhoIsNumberNone on Democratic Underground noted, "My vote is this is mocking Fox 'News.' However, it's subtle enough that the right wingers commenting on it seem hilariously unaware that they are the butt of yet another joke."
Cunningham stresses the song is not a parody, and that he truly respects the women on both the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.
"Seriously, all these gals seem to be what our elders used to describe as 'lovely.' Meaning looks certainly, but also with qualities like elegance, grace, intelligence, wit and kindness," he said.
The ladies who appear on Fox News are not just beautiful, they’re packing serious brains.
For instance, Monica Crowley has two master's degrees and a doctorate from Columbia University, and served as a foreign-policy assistant to President Richard Nixon before joining NPR's "Morning Edition."
Shannon Bream earned a juris doctorate with honors from Florida State University and practiced corporate law in Tampa, Fla.
Cunningham told WND: "As the song got more popular, the [political left] started demonizing it, and this war began. I never believed my friends who voiced conspiracy concerns when really the song almost stopped in its tracks. After reading these articles and now many of these comments, whether they've been successful or not, I believe the left has done everything possible to denigrate and demonize this song, me and the Fox women and steer popularity away from the song.
"This reaction from the left, the judgmental hate, the viciousness, the profanity and the slander has caused those who watch Fox and are probably conservative, to react with like-minded name calling. It seems we can't even agree that someone is beautiful. Or God forbid, admit that they also have a brain.
"If I had just listened to my song and went to leave a comment, I probably wouldn't for fear of being labeled one of the 'trailer-park tea-billies' as one contributor states. I am both elated at the song's popularity, and saddened that this country is so divided."
As WND reported last September, CNN anchor Carol Costello actually took an on-air shot at the legs of the women of Fox News.
Costello wrote on her Facebook page: "Good Morning! Each morning we are amazed at the excellent posture and strange ‘leg crossings’ on Fox’s early, early news. I have tried to get my legs to do that…but, it hurts. What can I say, it’s a slow Monday!"
The complete lyrics for "The Girls On Fox News" by Austin Cunningham are presented here:
Well I used to be a Democrat, Liberal no doubt
I didn't think Conservatives knew what life's about
Then I started leaving the Fox News channel on.
If that's the face of the right, I'll tell the left so long.
Oh, I want a girl like the girls on Fox News
Everyone is beautiful, anyone you choose
Whoever does the hiring knows how to light my fuse
I want a girl like the girls on Fox News.
There's Gretchen, Meagan and Martha, Harris and Patti Ann
Janice, Jen and Julie, Maria, Anna and Alison
Dana, Ainsley, Andrea, Uma, Shannon, Molly and Heather
Hey, is there even a Heather?
Yeah.
There's two?
Yeah two
There's Mollys too?
Yeah.
Perfect.
Well they make the bad news on TV look a whole lot better!
Now please don't call me shallow, a pervert, or insane.
Because who the heck does not love beauty with brains.
I bet you that Bill Clinton, when Hillary walks in
Quickly switches back from Fox to MSBNN!
Bet Bill wants a girl like the girls on Fox News
Everyone is beautiful, anyone you choose!
Whoever does the hiring, knows how to light my fuse
I want a girl like the girls on Fox News!
Now to Doocy, Kilmeade, and Bolling, Bret, Shep and Sean
And all them other hairy-legged Geraldos you put on
I ask you all one question, who would you rather watch
Cavuto or Courtney Friel interview Ed Koch.
'Cause honey sure beats vinegar to wash down the news we need
No one else comes close, well except for maybe Robin Meade.
They got your blondes and brunettes, even redheads, too
Which proves that they're the only ones with fair and balanced news!
Oh I want a girl, like the girls on Fox News
I'd settle for an hour there in Billy Hemmer's shoes
Can't help if other network girls' egos get bruised
I want a girl like the girls on Fox News.
More cowbell!
And I like Michelle Malkin, she never makes my reds stay blue
And if my wife would let me, hey I'd marry Michelle, too.
Save some love for Greta, she's the smartest y'all
Bet when she's off the record, she's the wildest of them all!
Now I'm a Fox News junkie, I watch it all I can
My Liberal days are over, hope Bob Beckel understands.
And I believe in everything O'Reilly has to say
Especially when he has Kimberly Guilfoyle on that day.
Oh I want a girl like the girls on Fox News!
Everyone is beautiful, anyone you choose.
Whoever does the hiring knows how to light my fuse
I want a girl like the girls on Fox News.
Hey, I want a girl like the girls on Fox News!
No, honey, I love you!
I mean if I wasn't married to you, I'd love them
I mean they're awesome
But you're the most awesomest, really!
I swear, honey.