English electronic artist Kieran Hebden, or more commonly known by his stage pseudonym, ‘Four Tet’, has been in a legal battle with Domino Records since December 2020. Hebden had claimed that Domino Records had breached his contract, and owed him around £70,000 in streaming royalties. The case had turned rather sour in November 2021 when the major record company allegedly removed three of Four Tet’s albums (‘Pause’, ‘Rounds’ and ‘Everything Ecstatic‘) from streaming services).
I’m so upset to see that @Dominorecordco have removed the 3 albums of mine they own from digital and streaming services. This is heartbreaking to me. People are reaching out asking why they can’t stream the music and I’m sad to have to say that it’s out of my control.
— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021
Hebden responded to this with a statement on twitter, stating, “I’m so upset to see that Domino Records have removed the 3 albums of mine they own from digital and streaming services. This is heartbreaking to me. People are reaching out asking why they can’t stream the music and I’m sad to have to say that it’s out of my control”. After explaining that he was in an ongoing legal dispute with the record company, he added, “Earlier this week Domino’s legal representative said they would remove my music from all digital services in order to stop the case progressing. I did not agree to them taking this action and I’m truly shocked that it has come to this. I considered the people who ran Domino to be my friends and to be driven by trying to create a great musical community. As a result Domino own 3 of my albums forever. Music I created that’s important to me and to many of you too.”
Due to Domino Record’s calculated action, Hebden was allowed to amend his lawsuit further in order to include the removal of his music which had further breached his contract. However, one and a half years later, it seems the electronic producer and his former record label have come to a settlement at last. Hebden announced on twitter that Domino Records had finally recognised his initial claim, resulting in him receiving 50% royalty on past and future streaming and download income. This is to be treated as a licensing income, rather than a CD or record sale.
Hebden vocalised his disappointment that the major record label will still own part of his catalogue, stating, “Sadly Domino still own parts of my catalogue for life of copyright and would not give me an option to take back ownership.I hope these types of life of copyright deals become extinct – the music industry isn’t definitive and given its evolutionary nature it seems crazy to me to try and institutionalise music in that way.” Hebden ended his post giving thanks to those who supported him through the legal dispute, saying “I feel so thankful for the people who worked with me on this, all of them understood my motivation, and I am truly grateful for all of the fans and artists who showed support for the intention here.
I have a bodacious update on my case with @Dominorecordco. They have recognised my original claim, that I should be paid a 50% royalty on streaming and downloads, and that they should be treated as a license rather than the same as a CD or vinyl sale.
(1/8)— Four Tet (@FourTet) June 20, 2022
