Iggy Azalea has accused Common Music Group (UMG) of withholding hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in unpaid royalties, taking to social media to demand what she claims is rightfully hers.
The Australian rapper, identified for her 2014 smash hit “Fancy,” claimed in a collection of posts on X (previously Twitter) on Saturday, claiming that UMG has didn’t pay her worldwide royalties all through her profession. “Loopy how in my complete profession I used to be by no means paid a single royalty by Common Music for something exterior of the USA. They owe me hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in again pay, that they technically stole from me, as per my contract I’m due fee. The quantity owed is within the 8-figure vary,” the rapper wrote.
She additional revealed that UMG tried to settle the matter with a payout far under what she believes she is owed. “Final week they tried to answer my lawyer and supply me a settlement of 18k. I’m advised this can be a regular response from their legal professionals and after showing in courtroom they find yourself paying hundreds of thousands as they’re speculated to.”
Azalea, whose actual title is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, signed with Island Def Jam below the UMG umbrella in 2013 earlier than transferring to Island Information and finally parting methods with the corporate in 2018. Regardless of her departure, she claims that the label has continued to withhold her earnings, notably from exterior america.
Past her personal case, Azalea expanded her criticism to UMG’s therapy of artists basically.“I’d prefer to publicly say that I believe Common Music are criminals who actively make the most of ALL of their artists in perpetuity for their very own achieve … Common music actually must do higher of their therapy of the artists who fairly actually earn them hundreds of thousands by way of mental property that they had zero half in creating. Yuck.”
The rapper didn’t maintain again in her remaining assertion, making a direct demand to the label: “Common music mark my phrases you ugly b**** – You’ll pay me what’s owed.” She added that her dispute with UMG has been ongoing for “over two years and counting.”
UMG has not publicly responded to Azalea’s accusations. Nevertheless, this isn’t the primary time the label has confronted allegations of withholding royalties.
Limp Bizkit beforehand sued UMG, claiming that they had not been paid their due earnings because of a software program system allegedly designed to “systematically forestall artists from being paid their royalties.”
Azalea has remained impartial since leaving the main label system, releasing music on her personal phrases. Whereas she has not introduced any particular authorized motion, her posts recommend that the struggle for her royalties is much from over.
Azalea has earned 4 profession Billboard 200 entries, together with her Grammy-nominated debut studio album, The New Basic (No. 3), her highest-charting entry on the rating up to now. On the Billboard Scorching 100, she has notched three high ten hits from 13 complete entries, together with “Drawback” (No. 2, with Ariana Grande), “Black Widow” (No. 3, with Rita Ora) and “Fancy” (No. 1, with Charli XCX). Her most up-to-date musical launch is final 12 months’s “Cash Come,” which acquired a remix that includes Ivorian Doll and Massive Boss Vette.