Prince's record label sues Jay-Z and Tidal for 'streaming all of the late singer's music without permission' 

  • Prince's record label NPG claims Jay-Z's music streaming service Tidal has been using all of the late singers work without permission since June 2016
  • Roc Nation, Jay-Z's label, said it has oral and written permission for music 
  • But NPG says Tidal was only given permission to stream Prince's last album
  • Suit seeks damages and to stop Tidal from streaming all of Prince's music

Prince's record label has filed a lawsuit against rapper Jay-Z over his use of the late singers music on the streaming service Tidal.

TMZ reported that Jay-Z's company has been illegally streaming all of Prince's music since June 2016.

Nearly every song Prince ever recorded is currently available to stream on Tidal. 

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Prince's (left) record label has filed a lawsuit against rapper Jay-Z (right) over his use of the late singers music on the streaming service Tidal

The suit against Jay-Z's Roc Nation and Tidal says that the company was never given permission to stream all of Prince's music and was only allowed to stream the late singer's last album

However, before Prince's death, an agreement between NPG Records, which represents the late Purple Rain hit-maker, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation agreed that Tidal could stream one album.

The suit seeks copyright infringement damages and seeks to have the music removed from the streaming service. It will, however, continue to allow Tidal to stream 'Hit N Run: Phase 1', which was Prince's final album 

Permission was given to Tidal to stream 'Hit N Run: Phase 1', which was the last album Prince ever recorded, according to court documents. 

However, NPG claims Roc Nation took this to mean it could stream all of the singer's music but the record label disputes this.  

NPG claims this was never authorized but Roc Nation says it has 'oral and written' permission, although it has yet to produce the material, according to Rolling Stone.  

The suit claims copyright infringement and seeks to have the music removed from the streaming service. 

It says, however, Tidal can continue to stream 'Hit N Run: Phase 1'.

No dollar amount is specified in the document but TMZ speculates damages sought would 'be enormous'. 

The documents say Tidal has streamed hits such as 'I Wanna Be Your Lover,' '1999,' 'Little Red Corvette,' 'Cream,' 'Purple Rain,' 'Controversy,' 'Pop Life,' without permission.

  

 

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