In a dramatic legal move, Limp Bizkit and their frontman Fred Durst have filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the label owes them more than $200 million in unpaid royalties. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court on October 8, accuses UMG of orchestrating a “systemic” and “fraudulent” scheme designed to withhold royalties from the band, despite their immense commercial success.
Decades of Unpaid Royalties
According to the lawsuit, Durst and his attorneys allege that the band has not received any royalties for their music over the decades, despite Limp Bizkit’s massive album sales and continued streaming popularity. In fact, the lawsuit claims that Durst had “never received any royalties” from UMG, even during the height of the band’s fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Limp Bizkit’s albums, which sold millions of copies, continue to be streamed by “millions of users per month” on platforms like Spotify, yet the band alleges they have been shut out of their rightful earnings.
Durst’s legal team suggests that hundreds of other artists may have experienced similar treatment, with UMG allegedly using fraudulent accounting practices to conceal artist royalties and keep the profits for itself.
Shocking Discovery
The legal battle traces back to April 2024, when Durst retained new representation. His team was reportedly shocked to learn that Limp Bizkit had never received royalties from UMG. The label had previously told Durst that the band’s royalties were being withheld because the band remained unrecouped—meaning their upfront advances had not yet been paid off by record sales. As a result, UMG claimed they did not owe any royalty payments.
However, Durst’s team began investigating UMG’s accounting and discovered over $1 million in royalties in Limp Bizkit’s accounts that had gone unreported by the label. This revelation prompted deeper suspicion about UMG’s practices, especially regarding royalty statements that were never issued during the band’s most successful years.
Fraud Allegations and Missing Statements
The lawsuit alleges that UMG intentionally failed to issue royalty statements during key periods of Limp Bizkit’s career, particularly between 1997 and 2004, when the band was at the height of its fame. According to the lawsuit, the failure to provide royalty statements during this period suggests that UMG was intentionally concealing sales figures to avoid paying the band their deserved share.
Durst’s attorneys also questioned UMG’s claim that the band’s albums were still unrecouped more than 20 years later, despite their multi-platinum success. Limp Bizkit’s first three albums sold millions of copies, and the band argues that their recording costs should have been recouped long ago. The lawsuit highlights fraudulent accounting practices, including unexplained charges to Limp Bizkit’s accounts, which Durst’s attorneys claim were used to improperly keep the band in the red.
A Delayed Payout and Ongoing Battle
When the discrepancies were brought to UMG’s attention, the label responded by saying that Limp Bizkit had been paid $43 million in advances over the years, which explained the delay in royalties. In response to the band’s inquiries, UMG eventually released $1.03 million to Limp Bizkit and $2.3 million to Durst’s Flawless Records, but the band insists this is just a fraction of what they are owed.
The lawsuit not only seeks to recover these unpaid royalties but also calls for the rescission of Limp Bizkit’s contract with UMG, the return of their copyrights, and copyright infringement damages related to those rights.
Industry-Wide Implications?
The lawsuit could have significant implications beyond Limp Bizkit, with Durst’s lawyers suggesting that UMG may have employed similar tactics to deny royalties to hundreds of other artists. The legal battle is poised to shine a light on accounting practices within the music industry, potentially opening the door to more artists challenging their contracts and royalty payments.
As of now, Universal Music Group has not commented on the lawsuit.
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