Black Sheep Files $750Mil Lawsuit Against UMG Over Unpaid Royalties: Report

BY Erika Marie 1326 Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Black Sheep Portrait Session
NEW YORK, NEW YORK-October 1: Hip-Hop Duo Black Sheep's Mista Lawnge (William McLean) and Dres (Andres Vargas Titus) appear in a portrait taken on October 1, 1994 in Brooklyn, New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/MIchael Ochs Archives).
The iconic Hip Hop duo claims Universal Music Group made a "sweetheart deal" with Spotify that robbed artists of royalities.

Usually, it's good to hear about iconic Rap groups. However, Black Sheep isn't surfacing for a walk down Hip Hop's memory lane. Instead, the classic duo—which includes Andres “Dres” Vargas Titus and William “Mista Lawnge” McLean—is reportedly suing Universal Music Group. According to Rolling Stone, the pair have filed a $750 million class action lawsuit against UMG over unpaid royalties.

Black Sheep claims that UMG worked out a deal with Spotify that shortchanged artists in the long run. Universal is accused of exchanging music from artists for cash and Spotify stock.

Read More: Universal Music Sued Over Royalty Payouts For Kanye West’s “Power”

The rappers also allege they weren't advised of this side deal; thus, it violates their contract with UMG's subsidiary, Polygram.

“In the mid-2000s, Universal struck an undisclosed, sweetheart deal with Spotify," the lawsuit reportedly reads.

"Yet rather than distribute to artists their 50 percent of Spotify stock or pay artists their true and accurate royalty payments, for years Universal shortchanged artists and deprived plaintiffs and class members of the full royalty payments they were owed under Universal’s contract.”

Black Sheep Portrait Session
NEW YORK, NEW YORK-October 1: Hip-Hop Duo Black Sheep's Mista Lawnge (William McLean) and Dres (Andres Vargas Titus) appear in a portrait taken on October 1, 1994 in Brooklyn, New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/MIchael Ochs Archives).
Read More: Universal Music Group Pulls Catalog From TikTok Rival Triller

Following Rolling Stone's report, a UMG spokesperson denied Black Sheep's claims.

“Universal Music Group’s innovative leadership has led to the renewed growth of the music ecosystem to the benefit of recording artists, songwriters and creators around the world,” they said.

“UMG has a well-established track record of fighting for artist compensation and the claim that it would take equity at the expense of artist compensation is patently false and absurd. Given that this is pending litigation, we cannot comment on all aspects of the complaint.”

[via]

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.