Max Romeo, a reggae legend, has filed a lawsuit against UMG Recordings and Polygram Publishing, Inc. alleging unpaid royalties on 19 songs, including War Ina Babylon, One Step Forward, and Chase The Devil. The latter song was sampled by Kanye West and Jay-Z and was featured in the Grand Theft Auto video game series, a successful gaming franchise that has sold hundreds of millions of copies.
Romeo, 78, claimed that his attorneys filed a breach of contract case on his behalf in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on December 15, 2022. The lawsuit alleged that UMG and Polygram had withheld his royalties since 1976.
Romeo claimed that he had never received payment for the royalties made for the songs mentioned earlier, stating, “I have never been paid, I can’t say much about it. It is being taken care of… so I don’t want to talk too much about the subject. Maybe in a couple of months from now, you can call me back, and we can discuss it openly, so hopefully it will be resolved.”
The lawsuit also claimed that other musicians, including Jay-Z and The Prodigy, had sampled Romeo’s songs and used them for synchronization in television, movies, and video games. Romeo asserted that despite being listed as the author of these songs, Polygram Publishing had not paid him “a dime in royalties” for their use.
The lawsuit sought compensatory damages in an amount to be decided, but not less than US$7.5 million, as well as prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and expenses. Romeo is also requesting a full and correct accounting of his revenues as well as the cancellation of his recording and composition contracts, with official acknowledgment as the proprietor of his 19 recordings.
UMG and Polygram argued that many of Romeo’s accusations, which cover nearly 50 years, are time-barred in the state of New York. They emphasized that there is a maximum six-year statute of limitations that applies to these claims.
Conclusions:
The lawsuit filed by Max Romeo is a significant development in the ongoing debate over music industry royalties. The case highlights the importance of ensuring that artists receive fair compensation for their work, and raises questions about the accounting practices of major record labels. As the music industry continues to evolve, it is crucial that artists are properly paid for their creations and that the industry works towards creating a more equitable environment.
FAQs:
* Who is Max Romeo, and what is he accusing UMG and Polygram of?
Max Romeo is a reggae legend who is accusing UMG and Polygram of withholding royalties for his songs since 1976.
* What are the specific songs in question?
The lawsuit references 19 songs, including War Ina Babylon, One Step Forward, and Chase The Devil.
* Who has sampled Romeo’s songs?
Kanye West, Jay-Z, The Prodigy, and others have sampled Romeo’s songs for use in television, movies, and video games.
* What are Romeo’s demands?
Romeo is seeking compensatory damages, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and expenses, as well as a full and correct accounting of his revenues and the cancellation of his recording and composition contracts.
* What is the time-barred issue in this case?
UMG and Polygram argue that some of Romeo’s accusations are time-barred, as the statute of limitations in the state of New York is six years.