Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Limp Bizkit, the iconic nu-metal band fronted by Fred Durst, has filed a major lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the label has withheld royalties owed to them. The band is seeking for USD $200 million or approximately Rp 3.1 trillion. The lawsuit was filed in a Los Angeles federal court on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Durst and his bandmates allege that UMG has failed to meet its royalty obligations, and they have not received any payments since August 2024. This comes despite the band’s resurgence in popularity and strong streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify. “Our comeback has been incredible, but we haven’t seen a single cent from UMG,” Durst stated.
According to Durst, UMG had previously promised the band $43 million in royalties, or around 672 billion rupiah, but Limp Bizkit claims they have been left waiting. The band, which gained fame in the late 90s and early 2000s with hits like Rollin’, Break Stuff, and My Way, has seen their streaming numbers soar by 68% since re-entering the spotlight, yet they say no funds have been forthcoming.
The lawsuit also highlights that Limp Bizkit is not alone in their frustrations, with hundreds of other artists reportedly in similar situations, dealing with delayed or unpaid royalties. Despite taking a break from 2006 to 2009, Limp Bizkit has remained a force in the music world for nearly three decades, with current members Fred Durst, John Otto, Sam Rivers, Wes Borland, and DJ Lethal.
As of now, Universal Music Group has not responded to the allegations made by Durst and the band.
(Raidi/Agung)
