The iconic Jamaican reggae singer Max Romeo presented a lawsuit for US$15 million against Universal Music Group Recordings (A G) y Polygram Publishing accusing non-payment of royalties for two of his albums, which add up 19 songs, among which are his main successes.
The legal action was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on 15 from December to 2022 and was modified in a new presentation on Friday 29 of September, following a partial dismissal of the case earlier this year by the judge Suzanne Adams, as reported Dancehall Mag.
Specific, lawsuit targets album royalties War Ina Babylon (1976) of 9 clues and Reconstruction (1977) of 10 tracks, which include songs like “War Ina Babylon”, “One Step Forward” and his greatest success “Chase The Devil”.
The origin of the dispute
War Ina Babylon was produced under a recording contract and also with a Romeo songwriter agreement with Island Records, at that time owned by Chris Blackwell.
Both contracts promised royalties from the 25% Y 50% of recordings and compositions, but after UMG and Polygram gained control of Island Records and Island Music through a series of mergers, The musician accuses that they did not pay him what they owed him since 1976.
According to Romeo's demand, UMG and Polygram provided royalty statements “incomplete and inaccurate” of 1976 a 2021 for copyright and after that UMG paid the singer 125 One thousand dollars Americans in September 2021, adding others “modest pay” since then, what “They weren't even close to updating the Romeo Recordings account; nor did they compensate Romeo for the loss of interest on late payments”.
Incomplete royalty statements
The defense of the musician – whose real name is Maxwell Smith– sets out a series of antecedents to consider that UMG's statements are at least incomplete, due to the appearance of Romeo's songs in films such as “Yardie” (2018) Y “Paul” (2011) or in the popular video game GTA San Andreas, whose royalties were not considered in the payment of UMG.
It is also noted that Romeo songs were sampled by other musicians., like American rapper Jay-Z in the song “Lucifer”, produced by Kanye West, and UK electronic dance group The Prodigy in their song “Out Of Space”.
Despite being credited as the writer of these two songs, Romeo claimed that he did not receive “not a cent in royalties” from Polygram Publishing for your use.
UMG's arguments for rejecting the lawsuit
While, in motion to dismiss original complaint filed earlier this year, UMG and Polygram argued that many of Romeo's accusations, which cover almost 50 years, have prescribed in the state of New York, since the limitation period for these claims is, at most, six year old.
They also maintained, among other things, what Romeo had not adequately alleged any breach of contract, as you did not identify the years in which royalty statements were not provided, the years in which royalties were not paid or were underpaid, the amounts supposedly owed, or how accounting and payments did not meet the terms of the agreements.
Max Romeo: “I have to fight for what is mine with the strength I have left”
Through their social networks, The musician expressed his feelings about this judicial dispute, ensuring that with this he seeks financial compensation for his work and that it is “a little man from rural St. Ann Fighting the World's Largest Record Label in the Supreme Court of the United States of America“.
“Many Jamaican singers and songwriters have faced the same injustice as me by the people who promised to bring our music across barriers, and as soon as the music gets there, they push us aside and ignore us”, Romeo posed.
He added that “after 47 years, I have exhausted all available resources to rectify this matter. I had to sit on the side because my most important job was exploited without adequate compensation. I have seen and heard my music and voice used in numerous commercial projects and have only taken the opportunity to perform these songs for my fans live at concerts.”.
Finally he stated that “to my 78 years I cannot enter this new stage of my life being docile and silent, I have to talk, I have to fight for what is mine with the strength I have left. I have to do this for the new generation to come, to raise awareness, since they often treat me like a 'legend'’ or a 'veteran', title that I assume with great pride. This matter is now in the hands of the court and I will not comment further on it.”.
The legendary reggae singer announced earlier this year his retirement from musical touring with a series of concerts around the world and in the framework of this “Ultimate Tour” will arrive in Chile next 23 November to perform at Club Chocolate.
