A former studio engineer has been accused of stealing and selling unreleased tracks by Eminem online, according to FBI prosecutors.
Authorities allege that over 25 songs from the Detroit rapper were distributed or played online without permission from Eminem or Interscope Capital Labels Group.
Charges and Potential Penalties
Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old Michigan resident, has been charged with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to a federal affidavit. Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck in Detroit stated that Strange, who was dismissed from Eminem’s studio in 2021, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on both counts. He has denied the charges.
Details of the Alleged Theft
The affidavit reveals that the stolen music was stored on password-protected hard drives kept in a safe at Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit. Studio employees reported the theft to the FBI in January 2024 after discovering that unreleased music still in development had surfaced on various online platforms, including Reddit and YouTube.
A review found that files were transferred from the studio’s secure hard drive to an external device in October 2019 and January 2020, while Strange was still employed as a sound engineer.
Online Sales and Bitcoin Payments
Investigators traced buyers after Eminem’s business associate, Fred Nassar, posted an online warning urging fans not to distribute the leaked music.
One buyer, a Canadian resident using the screen name “Doja Rat,” told investigators he had purchased 25 unreleased tracks from Strange for approximately $50,000 (£38,435) in Bitcoin. He stated that he had pooled the funds from a group of Eminem fans. Additionally, Strange was reportedly attempting to sell handwritten lyric sheets by the rapper.
Another fan group, led by a Connecticut resident using the alias “ATL,” also purchased a couple of songs for about $1,000 (£768.70), according to the affidavit.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the case, as music piracy and leaks remain a significant issue in the industry. Neither Eminem nor his legal representatives have publicly commented on the matter.
