In recent legal developments, a New York federal judge dismissed a proposed class action brought forward by rap duo Black Sheep against Universal Music Group (UMG). The artists accused UMG of owing a multitude of artists, approximately $750 million in total, due to reduced royalty payments from Spotify, resulting from an equity deal. However, the judge concluded that the suit was initiated too late.
As reported by Law360, the thrown-out class action case underscores the ongoing complexities and disputes surrounding royalty payments in the era of digital music streaming. It reminds artists, distribution companies, and legal professionals alike to maintain due diligence and timeliness when seeking to tackle such issues.