SZA has confirmed that she owes Beyoncé half of her publishing rights to the title track from her 2022 album SOS because of an interpolation of Beyoncé’s Dreamgirls’ song “Listen.” Though highly impactful financially, SZA was impressed by Beyoncé’s kindness, saying that the superstar never called her out on the agreement.
In a recent revelation, singer-songwriter SZA shared insights into the publishing arrangement for her hit song “SOS,” the title track of her critically acclaimed 2022 album, released on December 9, 2022. The song features an interpolation of Beyoncé’s powerful ballad “Listen,” originally performed in the 2006 film Dreamgirls.
Unlike sampling, which uses a direct recording, interpolation involves re-recording or adapting parts of an existing song. In this case, SZA adapted lyrics from “Listen,” singing “And I cried and cried / Said what’s on my mind,” compared to Beyoncé’s original “And I’ve tried and tried / To say what’s on my mind.” This creative adaptation necessitated a publishing agreement with the original song’s rights holders.
As a result, SZA owes half of her publishing rights for the “SOS” title track to Beyoncé. This 50/50 split on the composition rights is a standard practice in the music industry when an artist incorporates elements of another’s work into their composition.
The SOS album was a staggering success, topping the Billboard 200 chart for twelve weeks and setting various chart records. It also earned SZA a series of Grammy Awards, with Best R&B Album awarded in 2024. With top-10 singles in five areas and universal critical acclaim, the album’s commercial success reflects highly on the publishing agreement with Beyoncé.
On April 29, 2025, SZA took to social media to share her thoughts on the arrangement, stating,
“she never pressed me lmao a generous QUEEN.”
This comment reflects her appreciation for Beyoncé’s gracious approach, suggesting that Beyoncé did not exert pressure despite the substantial financial stake involved.
In an interview with Live Nation Entertainment, SZA once described Beyoncé as
“the most perfect, beautiful being I’ve ever met in my whole life” and “the most inspirational woman on earth, next to my mother.”
Multiple sources have confirmed the interpolation details and published deal details. On April 29, 2025, postings by accounts like Pop Crave and The Pop Tingz, as well as on music forums like Gaga Daily, corroborate SZA’s announcement and quote. Also, a music samples database known as WhoSampled describes SOS as having an interpolation of “Listen” in it, offering technical evidence of the interpolation link between both singles.
SZA’s disclosure gives insight into the intricacies of music publishing, where ownership of a song’s composition—lyrics and melody—is negotiated when borrowed elements are involved. The 50-50 publishing split with Beyoncé reflects a standard but powerful configuration, particularly considering SOS’s colossal success.
Most notably, SZA’s remarks on Beyoncé’s generosity reveal a spirit of collaboration beyond economic calculus, reaffirming a deferential relationship between both singers.
