Eminem Rep Makes Rare Statement After Ex-Employee Is Charged with Leaking Unreleased Music: Damage ‘Cannot Be Overstated’

Eminem’s Representative Responds to Leak of Unreleased Music

Eminem’s long-time associate, Joseph Strange, faced charges in Michigan for leaking more than 25 unreleased songs by the renowned rapper. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan, revealed that Strange, a former employee at Eminem’s studio, was accused of criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods related to the unauthorized distribution and sale of Eminem’s music.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, the leaked songs, spanning from 1999 to 2018, were circulated on platforms such as Reddit and YouTube without Eminem’s consent. A spokesperson for Eminem expressed gratitude towards the FBI Detroit bureau for their diligent investigation, emphasizing the significant impact of the leak on Eminem’s artistic legacy, creative integrity, and the financial losses incurred by collaborators and creators.

Strange, who worked at Eminem’s Ferndale, Mich. studio from 2007 to 2021, was among the few employees with access to the unreleased music. After Eminem severed ties with Strange in 2021, the FBI was notified by studio employees in January upon discovering the unauthorized dissemination of the rapper’s music online, still in its developmental stages.

Reportedly, Eminem’s work-in-progress tracks were shared online alongside a list of unreleased music, sourced directly from the studio’s hard drives. Consequently, the investigation led to the identification of Strange as the alleged seller of the music, prompting a search of his residence in Holly, Mich. The FBI confiscated evidence, including hard drives containing the leaked music, handwritten lyrics by Eminem, and an unreleased music video on VHS.

In response to the security breach, Eminem’s team initiated measures to safeguard his intellectual property rights. Fred Nasser, Eminem’s business associate, released a public statement urging fans not to engage with the leaked music. The investigation subsequently uncovered that one internet user, Doja Rat, had purchased the songs from Strange for $50,000, claiming the money was needed for medical expenses.

If convicted, Strange could face up to five years in prison for criminal infringement and a fine of up to $250,000, with a potential sentence of up to 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen goods. U.S. Attorney Julie Beck stressed the importance of protecting artists’ creative output from exploitation by individuals seeking financial gain at their expense.

The incident underscores the challenges faced by musicians in safeguarding their unreleased work from unauthorized disclosure, emphasizing the necessity of robust security measures in preserving artistic integrity and commercial value. Eminem’s response reflects the gravity of the situation, highlighting the detrimental impact of intellectual property theft on artists, collaborators, and the music industry as a whole.