Limp Bizkit Sues Universal Music Over $200M Royalties Dispute, Claims Decades of Unpaid Earnings
Limp Bizkit has filed a massive lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), seeking over $200 million in damages for alleged unpaid royalties, copyright infringement, and breach of contract.
Limp Bizkit performing live on stage
Key Claims:
- Band claims they never received royalty payments from UMG
- Accounts were allegedly misrepresented as unrecouped
- UMG accused of fraudulent accounting practices
Background: The dispute stems from multiple agreements:
- 1996 agreement between Limp Bizkit and Flip Records
- Late 2000 Interscope agreement
- Joint venture deal between Fred Durst's Flawless Records and Interscope
Recent Developments:
- April 2024: Durst hired new representation and discovered royalty issues
- Band's expected streaming count: 793 million by end of 2024
- UMG portal showed nearly $1.04 million in unpaid royalties
- Accounts allegedly recouped since 2019 but classified as "unrecouped"
Financial Disputes:
- UMG claims $43 million in advances paid to band
- Plaintiffs argue actual advance total closer to $13 million
- Late August: Band received $1.04 million payment
- Flawless Records received $2.35 million
Current Status:
- Band seeks termination of contracts
- Estimated damages exceed $200 million
- Case pending legal proceedings
Fred Durst performing live on stage
The lawsuit represents one of the largest royalty disputes in recent music industry history, highlighting ongoing issues with streaming revenue accountability and artist compensation.