A former studio engineer has been accused of illegally obtaining and selling unreleased music from Eminem, a crime that has sent shockwaves through the music industry.
Federal prosecutors claim that more than 25 of the Detroit rapper’s songs were distributed or played online without his or Interscope Capital Labels Group’s authorization. The leak of this material, still in development at the time, has raised concerns about intellectual property security within the music business.
Authorities say the man behind the alleged scheme exploited his position to gain access to the artist’s private recordings before selling them to eager collectors.
According to a federal affidavit, Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old Michigan resident, has been formally charged with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods. The charges stem from an extensive investigation led by the FBI, which uncovered evidence suggesting Strange transferred and sold Eminem’s confidential recordings.
If convicted, Strange could face up to 15 years in prison, a stark reminder of the severe legal consequences of intellectual property theft in the digital age. Despite the allegations, Strange has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he is innocent.
Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck, based in Detroit, revealed that Strange lost his position at Eminem’s recording studio in 2021. The former engineer’s access to the rapper’s unreleased tracks allegedly allowed him to execute the scheme long before he was dismissed.
His employment history, combined with the timing of the music leaks, has led investigators to believe he used his role within the studio to gain unauthorized access to the valuable content. Prosecutors are determined to hold him accountable for what they describe as a clear violation of copyright law and an abuse of trust.
The affidavit states that Eminem’s unreleased songs were stored on password-protected hard drives kept securely in a safe at the rapper’s Ferndale studio, a facility located in a Detroit suburb. Studio employees became aware of the missing files when they surfaced on various websites, including Reddit and YouTube.
Concerned by the breach, they reported the theft to the FBI in January of this year, prompting an official investigation. The leaked material, which included unfinished and unreleased music, had already circulated among fans before authorities were able to take action.
Investigators later determined that the files had been copied from the studio’s secured hard drive onto an external device. This transfer allegedly took place in two separate instances, once in October 2019 and again in January 2020, a period when Strange was still employed as a sound engineer.
Law enforcement officials believe he took advantage of his position to move the files discreetly before eventually selling them to online buyers. The breach has since prompted questions about how major recording studios safeguard sensitive material.
The case took another turn when Eminem’s business associate, Fred Nassar, posted an online warning urging fans not to distribute the leaked music. Despite this plea, investigators uncovered a network of buyers who had already purchased unreleased songs.
Among them was a Canadian individual who went by the screen name “Doja Rat.” This buyer admitted to purchasing 25 unreleased Eminem tracks for approximately $50,000 (£38,435) in Bitcoin. The funds, he revealed, were raised by a dedicated group of Eminem fans who wanted access to the rare and exclusive content.
In addition to selling the leaked tracks, Strange was allegedly attempting to profit from Eminem’s handwritten lyric sheets. According to “Doja Rat,” Strange had been offering the physical artifacts to potential buyers, further adding to the severity of the case.
The handwritten lyrics, considered highly valuable among collectors, could have been sold for significant sums. This detail has reinforced prosecutors’ claims that Strange was operating with financial gain as his primary motivation rather than simply leaking content for the sake of fan appreciation.
Further investigations uncovered another group of buyers, this time organized by an individual using the online alias “ATL.” This person, believed to be based in Connecticut, reportedly arranged for the purchase of a few unreleased Eminem songs from Strange for approximately $1,000 (£768.70).
While the transaction was significantly smaller than the Bitcoin-fueled purchase made by “Doja Rat,” it demonstrated that multiple parties were involved in acquiring the stolen content. The case highlights the black market demand for unreleased music from high-profile artists, a demand that some are willing to exploit for personal gain.
In response to the allegations, Strange’s attorney, Wade Fink, released a statement defending his client. He described Strange as a married father of two with a long-standing career in the music industry, emphasizing his decades of dedication to the craft.
Fink dismissed the charges as mere “untested allegations” that had yet to be thoroughly examined by a grand jury or a judge. He reassured the public that his client would contest the accusations in court, expressing confidence in the judicial system’s ability to handle the case fairly.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case has sparked discussions about the vulnerability of artists’ work in the digital era. With studios increasingly reliant on technology to store and protect their creative assets, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for the music industry.
Eminem, a veteran rapper known for his meticulous approach to crafting his albums, now faces the reality that some of his unfinished projects have been exposed to the public. Whether or not Strange is found guilty, the case underscores the persistent threat of music leaks and the legal repercussions awaiting those who attempt to profit from them.
