Jimi Hendrix Bandmates’ Heirs Lose U.K. Royalties Fight Against Sony Music, Hendrix Estate
A London judge has ruled against the heirs of Jimi Hendrix's bandmates, David Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, in their claim for royalties from Hendrix's recordings, affirming that a 1966 agreement transferred copyright to producers. The court found the contract was clear and gave producers full ownership of sound recordings without territorial or time limits. The Hendrix estate and Sony Music, as successors to those rights, were confirmed as rightful owners. Janie Hendrix, Jimi's sister and head of Experience Hendrix, welcomed the decision as vital to preserving his legacy.
- ▪The British High Court ruled that a 1966 recording agreement forfeited any royalty rights for Hendrix's bandmates, David Redding and Mitch Mitchell.
- ▪Judge Edwin Johnson determined the producers, not the performers, were the original copyright owners of the sound recordings.
- ▪The agreement granted worldwide, perpetual rights to recordings made under its terms, with no limitations or qualifiers.
- ▪A series of post-1970 transactions made the Hendrix estate the ultimate successor to the producers' rights.
- ▪The ruling resolves a dispute initiated in 2021 over unpaid performance royalties from billions of streams.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
“Clear and Unequivocal” blogherads.adq.push(function () { blogherads .defineSlot( 'inlineoop', 'gpt-rslogo-140-article-dsk-tab-uid4' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', 'rslogo140' ) .setSubAdUnitPath("music\/article\/logo") .addSize([[1,1]]) ; }); Jimi Hendrix Bandmates’ Heirs Lose U.K. Royalties Fight Against Sony Music, Hendrix Estate “This decision means we can continue protecting [Jimi's] legacy with the love, care, and integrity it deserves," the guitar legend's sister tells Rolling Stone By Nancy Dillon Nancy Dillon Contact Nancy Dillon on X Contact Nancy Dillon by Email Chris Brown Battling To Exclude Rihanna Assault at Dog Bite Trial Kim Kardashian Gets Trial Date for Defamation Lawsuit, But Ray J’s Claims Sent to Arbitration Judge Denies Cher’s Bid for Emergency Conservatorship Over Son…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Rolling Stone.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Rolling Stone
