David Lowery of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker led a class action lawsuit against Rhapsody (aka Napster). The case, which alleged the streamer had unlawfully reproduced and distributed copyrighted compositions, has preliminarily settled, and musicians may be entitled to compensation.
“I’m really proud of my advocacy on behalf of independent musicians. (No pun intended) It's been a David vs. Goliath kind of story," Lowery tells Hypebot. "The good news is the heavy lifting is done. We’ve been able to settle the Rhapsody case, and all that’s left on the to-do list is for my fellow indie musicians to take advantage of the hard work and file their claims before the end of the year.”
How to file a claim via the law firm of Michelman & Robinson, LLP
Attention indie musicians:
Rhapsody International Inc. has agreed to pay $10 million to resolve claims that they failed to pay songwriters royalties for their streamed music. What this means is that you may be entitled to compensation.
If your work qualifies and was played on Rhapsody between March 7, 2013 and March 21, 2019, you can be paid up to $35 for each eligible song. All you need to do is submit a claim, which is relatively hassle-free. Go to www.rhapsodynoiclassaction.com for the details, and click the “Submit Claim” link to complete the simple form.
Don’t wait to do so - the deadline to file is December 31, 2019. Feel free to contact the Claims Administrator at (833) 253-8061 if you have any questions.
MORE: Rhapsody and Napster To Pay Songwriters Up To $10M In Class Action Settlement