Digital royalty rights overseer SoundExchange is suing SiriusXM in federal court for back royalties.
The group says that between 2007–2012 the satcaster took a number of “impermissible deductions and exemptions” in calculating its royalty payments to SoundExchange. SiriusXM deducted pre-1972 recordings and certain channel packages from its payments, alleges the royalty collection organization.
SoundExchange believes SiriusXM’s underpayments amounted to $50 to $100 million or more, which it is seeking to recover on behalf of the artists and labels it represents.
Elements of the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, are similar to a suit against SiriusXM filed recently by former members of the ’60s band the Turtles.
SoundExchange seeks a jury trial.
