Spotify Wins Legal Battle Over Eminem's Music

Spotify has won a legal battle against Eight Mile Style, Eminem's publisher, which accused the streaming service of streaming the rapper's music without proper licensing. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, sought approximately £30 million in damages, claiming that Eminem had not been fully compensated for billions of streams of hits like 'Lose Yourself' and 'Without Me.' While the court found that Spotify did not hold the necessary licenses, it ruled that Spotify would not be liable for unpaid royalties; instead, any penalties would fall on Kobalt Music Group, which administers the rights for Eminem’s catalog. Eminem was not a party to the lawsuit and was reportedly unaware of it until it was filed. The case highlights the complexities of music rights management in the streaming industry, with Eight Mile accusing Spotify of making deceptive claims regarding licensing. Despite the legal turmoil, Eminem's music remained available on Spotify, where he is the 12th most-streamed artist with 76 million monthly listeners.