DistroKid has started pulling songs from its platform in response to a lawsuit Universal Music Group filed against the distributor in September, according to The Verge. The removals have left independent artists without warning or explanation, and several have gone public with complaints about losing tracks they say they had every right to release.
UMG’s lawsuit accuses DistroKid of building what the label calls an “AI-slop pipeline,” along with deceptive trade practices and “blatant copyright infringement.” DistroKid, which distributes music for independent artists to streaming services, has not detailed publicly how it is deciding which songs to take down or whether UMG supplied a specific list of tracks.
What DistroKid Says About The Song Removals
Amanda Ferri, DistroKid’s VP of Artist Services, acknowledged the takedowns in a statement reported by The Verge. “A very small number of recordings distributed through DistroKid have been removed in response to claims made by UMG,” Ferri said. “We strongly dispute the allegations underlying UMG’s lawsuit and regret the disruption to affected artists. We are working to minimize that disruption while protecting artists’ ability to release their music.”
The statement confirms the company disputes UMG’s underlying claims even as it continues removing material tied to the lawsuit. DistroKid has not said how many songs have come down in total or spelled out what criteria triggered each removal.
What It Means For Artists Using DistroKid
For musicians who rely on DistroKid to get their music onto streaming platforms, the removals have arrived without the kind of notice artists say they need to respond or appeal. Musician McGwire told The Verge that six of his songs were taken down, including a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” that he says he had properly licensed. He said reaching DistroKid required a lengthy, circular exchange with an automated bot before he finally connected with a live agent who could explain what happened.
Nerdcore rapper Insane Ian said an original song of his was removed with no warning, and DistroKid would not tell him why. Rapper King Chase said an entire album by an artist he works with disappeared without any communication, despite the project sitting on streaming services for three to four years with no copyright strikes against it.
Those accounts point to a common theme among affected artists: frustration not just with losing their music, but with the absence of transparency or an explanation from DistroKid about why a specific song or album was flagged.
Background On The UMG Lawsuit
UMG’s September lawsuit targets DistroKid’s role as a distributor that lets independent artists upload music to major streaming platforms without going through a traditional label. The label’s complaint centers on the “AI-slop pipeline” allegation alongside the copyright infringement and deceptive trade practices claims, according to The Verge. DistroKid’s public response so far has focused on disputing those allegations while acknowledging that some takedowns tied to the case have already happened.
What’s Next
DistroKid has not announced a formal policy explaining how it will handle further removals connected to the UMG lawsuit, and UMG has not issued additional public statements beyond the original filing. Artists like McGwire, Insane Ian and King Chase are left navigating DistroKid’s support system for answers as the legal dispute between the two companies continues.
Read more Music coverage on Total Apex Entertainment.
Additional reporting via Billboard.
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