Who Wrote the Song Happy
The song Happy was written by Pharrell Williams, who composed the music and lyrics for the track. The composition was released as a single from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack in 2013 and later appeared on Pharrell Williams' second studio album G I R L. The official songwriting credit lists Pharrell Williams as the sole writer of the composition, according to the metadata on major digital music platforms and the original liner notes of the album.
Pharrell Williams, an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, is the credited composer of Happy. The track was produced by Pharrell Williams under his i am OTHER label and distributed by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The song's copyright is administered by the Harry Fox Agency and other performing rights organizations, with Pharrell Williams listed as the rights holder for the musical composition.
Chart Performance and Commercial Success
Happy reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 22 weeks as of the latest tracking data. The song also topped charts in over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. According to IFPI, Happy was one of the best-selling digital singles worldwide, with certified sales exceeding 10 million units across multiple territories.
The song's streaming numbers have surpassed 1.5 billion cumulative plays on major platforms, placing it among the most-streamed tracks of its era. Happy has been certified multi-platinum by the RIAA and equivalent bodies in the UK, Germany, and Japan. The track's enduring performance in global charts reflects its sustained radio play and usage in commercials, films, and public events.
Copyright, Licensing, and Rights Holders
The musical composition of Happy is owned by Pharrell Williams and administered by Warner Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group. The sound recording copyright is held by i am OTHER and Columbia Records, with distribution handled by Sony Music Entertainment. Licensing for sync, mechanical, and public performance rights is managed through these entities, with fees collected by PROs such as ASCAP and BMI.
For detailed royalty splits and licensing terms, the official credits can be verified through the Harry Fox Agency database and the ASCAP ACE search tool. The song's rights structure is typical of major-label releases, with the writer and publisher retaining composition rights while the label controls the master recording. Additional information on copyright registration is available on the U.S. Copyright Office website https://www.copyright.gov and through the SEC filings of Sony Music Entertainment https://www.sec.gov.