Latin star Enrique Iglesias sues Universal Music over streaming royalties
Lawsuit claims that Universal is paying Iglesias less than the 50 per cent royalty rate as per his contract
Latin pop star and actor Enrique Iglesias sued Universal Music Group on Wednesday in a dispute over how much he's paid for songs played on streaming music services.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Universal, which didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. It also seeks the right to examine Universal's accounting books as they relate to the Iglesias contract.
"Artists, producers and songwriters should benefit from the reduced costs of streaming, not have their musical works spin unwarranted profits," attorney James Sammataro, who is representing Iglesias, said in an email.
"Universal has long ignored, and is now attempting to distort, the clear terms of its artist agreements so that it alone reaps the savings from digital streams."
"No choice but to file this lawsuit"
Iglesias, who has sold nearly 160 million albums worldwide and has won numerous awards, most recently scored a huge hit with 2014's Bailando. He has appeared in many movies and television shows, including Once Upon a Time In Mexico and Two and a Half Men, and played the halftime show along with other performers at the 2000 Super Bowl.
He signed with Sony Music in 2015, according to the lawsuit, but has been unable to resolve the dispute with Universal for his earlier releases. He originally signed with Universal in 1999 in a deal that included albums in both English and Spanish.
"After lengthy efforts to have Universal honour its contractual obligations, Enrique's team regrettably concluded that he had no choice but to file this lawsuit," Sammataro said.
Iglesias, 42, lives in Miami Beach with his longtime girlfriend, tennis star Anna Kournikova, and their newborn twins.