Iggy Azalea accuses Universal Music Group of withholding eight-figure royalties
Iggy Azalea has accused her former label, Universal Music Group, of failing to pay her millions of dollars in royalties.
The Australian rapper made a series of posts on X on March 15th, claiming the record label had refused to pay her international royalties throughout the period she was signed to them.
She said: “Crazy how in my entire career I was never paid a single royalty by Universal Music for anything outside of the USA. They owe me millions of dollars in back pay, that they technically stole from me, as per my contract I am due payment. The amount owed is in the eight-figure range.”
Azalea was signed to Island Def Jam, managed under the UMG label, between 2013 and 2018, during which she scored her biggest hit in 2014’s ‘Fancy’. She has been an independent artist ever since parting ways with the company, but claims she has been in this dispute with them over royalties for “over two years and counting.”
Her latest move to social media came as the rapper said the group recently tried to enact a settlement worth a tiny percentage of what she is owed. Azelea’s posts continued: “Last week they tried to respond to my lawyer and offer me a settlement of 18k. I’m told this is a normal response from their lawyers and after appearing in court they end up paying millions as they’re supposed to.”
She added: “I’d like to publicly say that I think Universal Music are criminals who actively take advantage of ALL of their artists in perpetuity for their own gain. Universal Music really needs to do better in their treatment of the artists who quite literally earn them millions via intellectual property they had zero part in creating. Yuck.”
Concluding her string of accusations, the rapper declared: “Universal Music mark my words you ugly bitch – You will pay me what’s owed.”
Universal Music Group has not yet responded publicly to the accusations.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.