Sony Music Hits LiveOne with $2.6M Lawsuit Over Alleged Unpaid Licensing Fees
In the latest development in the ongoing saga of music licensing, Sony Music has filed a lawsuit against streaming platform LiveOne and its subsidiary Slacker Radio, alleging $2.6 million in unpaid licensing fees. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, June 6, 2025, claims that despite a termination of their content distribution deal, LiveOne continues to stream hundreds of Sony Music's copyrighted tracks, including hits by global superstars like Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae.
This isn't the first time LiveOne (and its acquired entity, Slacker Radio) has faced legal action over unpaid royalties. Just a few years ago, SoundExchange, the non-profit organization that collects and distributes royalties to record labels and artists for non-interactive digital streams, secured a nearly $10 million judgment against Slacker and LiveOne for similar issues.
What's Happening Now?
According to Sony Music's complaint, the relationship between Sony and Slacker dates back to a content distribution deal in 2007. However, Sony alleges that LiveOne and Slacker ceased making their regular monthly licensing payments in August 2024, accumulating a staggering $2.6 million in outstanding fees.
Sony's attorneys state they formally terminated the content distribution agreement in March 2025 due to this breach of contract, explicitly informing LiveOne and Slacker that any further use of their music would constitute copyright infringement. Despite this, the lawsuit claims that over 200 Sony Music songs – featuring artists like Doja Cat, Harry Styles, Justin Timberlake, and Khalid – are still readily available on the LiveOne app.
Why Does This Matter?
This lawsuit highlights a critical issue in the digital music landscape: the consistent struggle to ensure artists and rights holders are fairly compensated for their work. Streaming services rely heavily on vast music catalogs, and these catalogs come with a price – licensing fees. When these fees go unpaid, it directly impacts the revenue streams for labels and, by extension, the artists themselves.
Sony Music argues that LiveOne's continued use of their music without proper payment causes "substantial and irreparable harm" to both the label and its artists, while unjustly enriching LiveOne. The label is seeking damages for the breach of agreement and for the willful copyright infringement that has occurred since the termination of the deal.
A Pattern of Non-Payment?
The fact that LiveOne and Slacker have faced similar lawsuits in the past, including the significant judgment from SoundExchange, raises questions about the companies' financial practices and commitment to honoring licensing agreements. While LiveOne has touted recent commercial success and a surge in app usage, Sony's lawyers are quick to point out that this "self-proclaimed growth" hasn't translated into fulfilling their payment obligations.
This case will be closely watched by the music industry, as it underscores the importance of robust licensing agreements and the legal recourse available when those agreements are violated. For artists, labels, and the entire ecosystem of music creation, ensuring fair compensation remains a top priority in the ever-evolving digital world.
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