Four Tet reveals royalties dispute with Domino has been resolved

20 June 2022, 14:20 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Four Tet)

Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, has given an update on his legal battle with Domino Records over a streaming royalties rate, revealing that he's secured his original claim.

In August last year Hebden launched legal action against Domino Records, seeking a higher royalty rate for music released in the noughties. Domino went on to remove his Pause, Rounds and Everything Ecstatic albums from streaming services for a few months, and today (20 June) Hebden has shared an update on the dispute via Twitter.

"I have a bodacious update on my case with Dominno Records," Hebden wrote. "They have recognised my original claim, that I should be paid a 50% royalty on streaming and downloads, and that they should be treated as a license rather than the same as a CD or vinyl sale."

He continued, "It has been a difficult and stressful experience to work my way through this court case and I’m so glad we got this positive result, but I feel hugely relieved that the process is over."

It has been a difficult and stressful experience to work my way through this court case and I’m so glad we got this positive result, but I feel hugely relieved that the process is over.
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— Four Tet (@FourTet) June 20, 2022

"Hopefully I’ve opened up a constructive dialogue and maybe prompted others to push for a fairer deal on historical contracts, written at a time when the music industry operated entirely differently," Hebden wrote. "I really hope that my own course of action encourages anyone who might feel intimidated by challenging a record label with substantial means."

I really hope that my own course of action encourages anyone who might feel intimidated by challenging a record label with substantial means.
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— Four Tet (@FourTet) June 20, 2022

He also wrote in the thread, "Unlike Domino, I didn’t work with a big law firm and luckily the case took place in the IPEC court (where legal costs are capped) so I was able to stand my ground. Sadly Domino still own parts of my catalogue for life of copyright and would not give me an option to take back ownership."

Sadly Domino still own parts of my catalogue for life of copyright and would not give me an option to take back ownership.
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— Four Tet (@FourTet) June 20, 2022

"I hope these types of life of copyright deals become extinct - the music industry isn’t definitive and given its evolutionary nature it seems crazy to me to try and institutionalise music in that way," Hebden added. "I feel so thankful for the people who worked with me on this, all of them understood my motivation, and I am truly grateful for all of the fans and artists who showed support for the intention here."

I feel so thankful for the people who worked with me on this, all of them understood my motivation, and I am truly grateful for all of the fans and artists who showed support for the intention here.
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— Four Tet (@FourTet) June 20, 2022