Acuff-Rose Music

Acuff-Rose was formed by country music performer Roy Acuff and Fred Rose, a major Nashville music-industry figure who had a respected ability as a talent scout. Many country performers had been badly cheated in the past with regard to copyright and other rights to their creations. Many were unsophisticated and naive and were taken advantage of by unscrupulous agents, attorneys, record promoters, record labels and others.

Acuff-Rose had its headquarters on 8th Avenue South in the Melrose district of Nashville and was something of a landmark to those knowledgeable of the music industry. It was here that Hank Williams, to prove to Rose his ability, wrote a hit song ("I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love with You") for Rose while the latter went out to a nearby restaurant for a cup of coffee. Rose befriended Williams, as he did many performers.

On Fred Rose's passing in 1954, his son Wesley Rose served as president of Acuff-Rose.

Acuff-Rose Music may be best-known for its role in the United States Supreme Court case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music (510 U.S. 569), 1994. This case was about the use by rap artist Luther Campbell (then using the alias "Luke Skyywalker") and his band 2 Live Crew a substansial amount of the Roy Orbison song "Oh, Pretty Woman" in a parody. District Court found in favor of Campbell; this was reversed at the appeallate level and the United States Supreme Court found in favor of Campbell and his parody to be a fair use.

Acuff-Rose was sold to Sony after the deaths of both of the principals.