NEW YORK (Hypebot) – Despite his team winning a lawsuit against Universal Music Grpup over digital download royalty payments that some estimate could lead to a $30 million payout, Eminem may not receive any of the money from an eventual settlement.
Why no cash for Eminem?
The rapper declined to be part of the original lawsuit, so his former production company FBT sued UMG by proxy. "He wouldn’t get a percentage of those damages,” FBT manager Joel Martin, told Forbes. “He’d have to go to court or negotiate with the record company.” Eminem could use the court decision as a framework Eminem to negotiate his own settlement, however.
Why didn't Eminem join the lawsuit or isn't at least rushing to collect his share now that the courts have ruled against UMG?
And why aren't dozens of superstars rushing to file lawsuits of their own?
For many, including several artist representatives that spoke to Hypebot privately, it's because their afraid to sue the labels that control so much of their money generating catalog and in some cases future releases. Instead they're laying low and letting someone else fight the battle.
Some artists, however, are unwilling to wait. Rob Zombie, White Zombie, Whitesnake and Dave Mason have filed a class-action suit against Universal in the United States District Court in San Francisco. Several other attorneys including at least one major nation class action specialist are also exploring similar lawsuits.
