Prince’s Record Label Sues Jay Z’s Roc Nation Over Tidal Streaming

NPG Records claims that Roc Nation is streaming the Purple One’s catalog when it only had rights to one album

Prince
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Prince and Jay Z’s camps aren’t in harmony these days.

Prince’s label, NPG Records, has filed suit against Jay Z’s Roc Nation, claiming that Roc Nation’s Tidal streaming service has been wrongfully streaming the Purple One’s music.

According to the suit, filed in federal court in Minnesota on Tuesday, NPG made an agreement for Tidal to stream Prince’s new album, “Hit N Run: Phase 1,” in August 2015.

However, the suit claims, Roc Nation has overstepped the terms of the agreement, streaming Prince music beyond the new album.

The copyright infringement suit says that Roc Nation sent a letter in October 2016 claiming that changes were made to the agreement allowing Roc Nation “to exclusively stream [Prince’s] entire catalog on the Tidal service,” but that it has not provided documentation to back that claim up.

A spokeswoman for Roc Nation has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

“Despite the repeated request from the Special Administrator [of Prince’s trust], and Roc Nation’s multiple filings in the Carver County probate matter, Tidal and Roc Nation have not provided any documentation or evidence of any oral and implied agreement granting Roc Nation any rights beyond those rights granted in the [August 2015] Letter of Intent,” the lawsuit reads.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

 

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