Spotify face $1.6 billion copyright lawsuit

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Spotify is being sued for $1.6 billion by music publishers Wixen, who allege that the streaming giant is using more than 10,000 songs without a proper licence.

Wixen Music oversees tracks by artists including Neil Young, Tom Petty, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Stevie Nicks, The Doors, Weezer, Rage Against The Machine’s Zach de la Rocha and Tom Morello, Dan Auerbach, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and more.

It’s alleged that the Swedish-based music streaming service features tracks including The Doors’ Light My Fire, Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’ and (Girl We Got A) Good Thing by Weezer without a direct licence and, as a result, Wixen Music Publishing have filed the lawsuit in California.

They are seeking a damages award of at least $1.6bn along with injunctive relief, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

In May last year, Spotify agreed to pay $43 million to settle a proposed class action from songwriters spearheaded by David Lowery and Melissa Ferrick. They alleged that Spotify had failed to adequately pay royalties for some songs on their service.

That case has still to be approved by a judge.

Scott has spent 36 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.