Billy Joel is fighting to stop the unauthorized biopic Billy and Me

Billy Joel does not want you watching this film

Billy Joel is actively opposing an unauthorized biopic about his life, and the Billy Joel biopic situation is already turning into a minor legal standoff. The singer has described the project, titled Billy and Me, as "legally and professionally misguided," according to Pitchfork. The film will feature none of his music, which tells you something about where the two sides stand.

What is Billy and Me

The project appears to have moved forward without Joel's cooperation or blessing. No rights to his catalog have been secured, meaning the biopic would cover the life of one of the most recognizable singer-songwriters in American pop history while keeping his actual songs entirely off the soundtrack. That is a significant creative and commercial handicap for any music-centered film.

Why this matters

Unauthorized biopics occupy a complicated legal space. Artists have limited tools to block a film about their life outright, since biography is generally protected. Where they gain leverage is through music licensing: without the songs, a Billy Joel story loses much of its reason to exist. Joel's team seems to understand this, and the "legally" framing of his objection suggests further action may follow.

For fans of the [/artistas/billy-joel] catalog, the safest bet is to treat Billy and Me as something closer to a dramatized tribute act than a definitive portrait. Whether the film surfaces in theaters, on streaming, or at all remains to be seen.