Eminem’s former studio engineer charged with stealing and selling rapper's unreleased music online
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A former studio engineer for Eminem has been charged with stealing and distributing the rapper’s unreleased music, according to an announcement from federal prosecutors on Wednesday, March 19.
Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan, faces charges of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods.
Eminem's ex-employee could face up to 15 years in prison
If convicted on both counts, Joseph Strange could face up to 15 years in prison, said Acting US Attorney Julie Beck in Detroit, according to Page Six.
The FBI alleges that Strange illicitly transferred music files from Eminem’s private studio in Ferndale, Michigan, before attempting to sell them to fans online.
The music, stored on password-protected hard drives inside a safe, was played and distributed without the consent of Eminem or Interscope Capital Labels Group, which owns the rapper’s catalog.
FBI investigation uncovers music leaks and illicit sales
Studio employees reported the unauthorized release of Eminem’s music to the FBI in January after discovering that unfinished songs were appearing on websites such as Reddit and YouTube.
A forensic review revealed that files had been transferred from the secured studio hard drives to an external device in October 2019 and January 2020, when Strange was still employed as a sound engineer.
Authorities uncovered several online buyers, including a Canadian resident known as 'Doja Rat,' who allegedly purchased 25 unreleased Eminem songs from Strange for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin.
Doja Rat claimed he had raised the money from a group of Eminem fans eager to hear unreleased material.
Strange also attempted to sell Eminem’s handwritten lyric sheets, according to the affidavit.
Another group, organized by an individual in Connecticut using the screen name "ATL," allegedly bought additional tracks from Strange for around $1,000.
FBI raid uncovers thousands of audio files and handwritten lyrics
During a search of Joseph Strange’s home in January, FBI agents seized a trove of Eminem-related material, including handwritten lyric sheets, personal notes, a VHS tape of an unreleased Eminem music video, and hard drives containing more than 12,000 audio files.
Some of these files featured incomplete music projects involving Eminem and other artists collaborating with him.
Strange’s attorney, Wade Fink, dismissed the charges as "untested allegations" and emphasized that the case has not yet gone before a grand jury or judge.
“He is a married father of two with decades of dedication to the music industry,” Fink told the Associated Press.
“We will handle the matter in a courtroom, and we have great faith in the judges of our district,” Fink added.
Joseph Strange's severance agreement
As part of his severance agreement after leaving Eminem’s studio in 2021, Joseph Strange had signed a contract explicitly prohibiting him from electronically distributing any of the rapper’s work.
“Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators,” Beck stated in a news release.
“We must ensure that original work is not exploited by individuals seeking to profit from someone else’s creative output,” added Beck.
The case is ongoing as federal authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the alleged music theft and distribution.
