Eminem’s Former Employee Charged with Selling Unreleased Music, Faces Prison Time
Joseph Strange, a former employee of Eminem, has been charged with stealing and selling unreleased music, which came to light earlier this year.
According to reports, federal prosecutors have accused Strange of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods after he allegedly sold the rapper’s music to individuals who subsequently uploaded over 25 tracks online in January.
Eminem’s long-time spokesman, Dennis Dennehy, expressed satisfaction with the recent developments in the case. “Eminem and his team greatly appreciate the efforts of the FBI’s Detroit office in its thorough investigation that led to the charges against Joseph Strange,” Dennehy stated.
He emphasized the significant impact of the breach, saying, “The harm caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, as well as the considerable financial losses suffered by the many creators and collaborators who deserve protection for their decades of work. We will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard Eminem’s art, and nothing will stop us.”
A criminal complaint obtained by Variety reveals that Strange served as Eminem’s music producer from 2007 to 2021 at a recording studio in Michigan, granting him access to the unreleased music that was later leaked.
Following the songs’ online release in January, several studio employees alerted the FBI upon discovering the unauthorized availability of the music. The investigation led the FBI to trace the sales to several individuals, including one named Doja Rat, who claimed to have paid Strange $50,000 (€46,000) for the tracks. Doja Rat also mentioned that Strange boasted of having over 300 songs available.
Other individuals, including Kali Kush and ATL, were also identified as participants in the group purchase of the unreleased music.
On January 28, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Strange’s residence, seizing hard drives that contained copies of Eminem’s unreleased music. Financial records unearthed payments made to Strange for the stolen tracks.
The complaint alleges that more than 25 of Eminem’s songs, recorded between 1999 and 2018, were leaked online without his consent. Furthermore, Eminem’s manager, John Fisher, confirmed to FBI officials that Strange did not possess the rights to the files.
If convicted of copyright infringement, Strange faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 (approximately €230,000). Should he be charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods, he could face an additional maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
