Chuck D files suit against Universal Music over digital royalties
It's been years since Public Enemy released a creatively vital album, but the group still makes money, and frontman Chuck D believes he's not getting his fair cut from Universal Music Group. The rapper filed a class action suit against the record company on Wednesday, alleging that Public Enemy has been shortchanged for years on royalties from digital downloads. Chuck D asserts that downloads should be treated as "licenses," which allows for artists to take a bigger share of royalties. UMG currently counts downloads as "sales," which typically affords artists between 10 and 20 percent of the money. (Licenses split the royalty in half, between artist and record company.)