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Jay Z and his music streaming app, Tidal, seem to be in hot water… again.

The app, which launched about a year ago, was first met with backlash due to up-and-coming artists believing the service — which claimed to be by the artist for the artist — was really just like every other music streaming app.

One artist in particular, John Emanuele — a part of Yesh Music LLC — reportedly sued the company for $5 million, stating that the company has not paid the appropriate amount of independent artists proper royalties and violated copyright. John he also mentions how the streaming service adds music from independent artists without licensing or receiving authorization from those artists

In statement about Jay Z and Tidal, John said “ironically, when Defendant Carter purchased the Tidal Music Service in 2015, it claimed it would be the first streaming service to pay the artists. Different owner, same game.

On Monday, however,  a representative from Tidal released a counter statement about the case, saying, “TIDAL is up to date on all royalties for the rights to the music stated in Yesh Music, LLC and John Emanuele’s claim and they are misinformed as to who, if anyone, owes royalty payments to them.” Continuing on stating, “As Yesh Music, LLC admits in their claim, TIDAL has the rights to the Master Recordings through its distributor Tunecore and have paid Tunecore in full for such exploitations. Their dispute appears to be over the mechanical licenses, which we are also up to date on payments via Harry Fox Agency our administrator of mechanical royalties.

The statement also adds, “The entire catalogue in question streamed fewer than 13,000 times on TIDAL and its predecessor over the past year,” it continues. “We have now removed all music associated with Yesh Music, LLC and John Emanuele from the service. This is the first we have heard of this dispute and Yesh Music, LLC should be engaging Harry Fox Agency if they believe they are owed the royalties claimed. They especially should not be naming S Carter Enterprises, LLC, which has nothing to do with Tidal.  This claim serves as nothing other than a perfect example of why America needs Tort reform.

This story is still developing.

SOURCE: Hip Hop DX | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

Streaming Service Tidal Hit With Major Lawsuit  was originally published on globalgrind.com