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The music industry is facing some major problems in it ranks as the musicians they are supposed to represent are starting to get miffed.
According to the Hollywood Reporter the number of lawsuits against major record labels over digital royalties is growing. Sony is the biggest target and is dealing with more litigation over the way artists are compensated whenever consumers buy songs on iTunes and other digital outlets.
'Weird Al' Yankovic Sued Sony for $5 Million and separate lawsuits were filed in New York federal court by REO Speedwagon and William "Boz" Scaggs. Two weeks ago, James Taylor sued Warner for almost $2 million in damages. Warner dealing with laywers from Sister Sledge and Gary Wright. Universal has been facing lawsuits from the likes of The Temptations, Peter Frampton, Chuck D, Rob Zombie, Rick James and George Clinton and others. EMI is scrapping with Kenny Rogers and The Knack.
Both said that Sony has breached recording contracts by counting digital downloads as "sales" rather than "leases" or "licenses." This means that they have not been paid properly. On a sale they get 15 per cent while on a licence they get half. In 2010 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that suggested digital downloads should be treated as "licenses" and this is something that Big Content has been pushing on music buyers.
Big Content has been pushing music buyers to see the music they pay for as loans rather than something they actually own. It appears that it has been telling users one thing and its musicians another.
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The music industry is facing some major problems in it ranks as the musicians they are supposed to represent are starting to get miffed.
According to the Hollywood Reporter the number of lawsuits against major record labels over digital royalties is growing. Sony is the biggest target and is dealing with more litigation over the way artists are compensated whenever consumers buy songs on iTunes and other digital outlets.
'Weird Al' Yankovic Sued Sony for $5 Million and separate lawsuits were filed in New York federal court by REO Speedwagon and William "Boz" Scaggs. Two weeks ago, James Taylor sued Warner for almost $2 million in damages. Warner dealing with laywers from Sister Sledge and Gary Wright. Universal has been facing lawsuits from the likes of The Temptations, Peter Frampton, Chuck D, Rob Zombie, Rick James and George Clinton and others. EMI is scrapping with Kenny Rogers and The Knack.
Both said that Sony has breached recording contracts by counting digital downloads as "sales" rather than "leases" or "licenses." This means that they have not been paid properly. On a sale they get 15 per cent while on a licence they get half. In 2010 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that suggested digital downloads should be treated as "licenses" and this is something that Big Content has been pushing on music buyers.
Big Content has been pushing music buyers to see the music they pay for as loans rather than something they actually own. It appears that it has been telling users one thing and its musicians another.