Who Really Wrote the Carole Baskin Songs? the True Story Behind the Viral Tracks
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
When Netflix premiered the documentary in March 2020, viewers streamed hundreds of millions of hours of footage within weeks. Streaming platforms saw an explosion of search volume for Joe Exotic’s music catalog. The uncredited musicians suddenly found their voices playing in tens of millions of living rooms without their permission or compensation.
Johnson moved swiftly to reclaim his intellectual property. Working with entertainment attorney Mark H. Levin and brand management firm Love Live Music, Johnson secured legal representation to assert ownership of The Clinton Johnson Band catalog. By mid-2020, the team inked comprehensive distribution and licensing deals to monetize the historic masters and drop newly minted releases, such as the direct response single "Killer Carole."
| Song Title | True Writers & Performers | Original Production Window | Commercial & Publishing Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Here Kitty Kitty | Vince Johnson (Writing) / Danny Clinton (Lead Vocals) | 2014, 2015 | Copyright reclaimed; catalog signed to global licensing agreements. |
| I Saw a Tiger | Vince Johnson & Danny Clinton | 2013, 2014 | Retroactively credited on digital streaming providers to The Clinton Johnson Band. |
| Killer Carole | Vince Johnson | Mid-2020 | Released commercially as an independent single through formal digital distribution. |
| "Savage" Carole Parody | Caleb Cutter (Audio creator via TikTok) | March 2020 | Non-commercial social media sound; generated over 10 million user videos. |
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
