Universal Music Group, ABKCO & Concord Music Group Sue TuneCore for $500M Over Music Piracy & Fraud

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | November 14, 2024 | News

Universal Music Group ABKCO Concord Music Group TuneCore

Universal Music Group, ABKCO, and Concord Music Group have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against TuneCore and its parent company, Believe, seeking at least $500 million in damages, according to Billboard. TuneCore, which helps independent artists distribute their music to major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, was acquired by Believe in 2015. Since its founding in 2006, TuneCore claims to have paid over $4 billion in revenue to artists.

The lawsuit, filed on November 4 in Manhattan federal court, accuses TuneCore of facilitating extensive fraud and piracy. The plaintiffs allege that Believe's platform has been "overrun with fraudulent 'artists' and pirate record labels," distributing unauthorized derivatives of hit songs across streaming services and social media. Lawyers for UMG, ABKCO, and Concord claim that these counterfeit "artists" uploaded "minor variants" of popular songs by major artists like Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga, attempting to evade detection with intentionally misspelled names like "Kendrik Laamar", "Arriana Gramde", "Jutin Biber" and "Llady Gaga".

While Believe operates in more than 50 countries and has positioned itself as an independent, artist-centric alternative to major labels, the lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the fight against music piracy, accusing the company of failing to sufficiently monitor its platform.