Former Eminem Engineer Charged with Music Theft
A former sound engineer for Eminem has been charged with stealing unreleased music from the Detroit rapper and selling it online, as announced by federal prosecutors on Wednesday.
Investigators reported that over 25 songs were accessed and distributed without authorization from either Eminem or Interscope Capital Labels Group, the label that owns Eminem’s music. The tracks were stored on password-protected hard drives within a safe at Eminem’s studio located in Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit, according to an FBI affidavit.
Joseph Strange, 46, from Holly, Michigan, faced charges for copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to Acting US Attorney Julie Beck in Detroit. Having lost his position at the studio in 2021, Strange could potentially face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of both allegations.
Strange’s attorney, Wade Fink, emphasized that he’s a family man with extensive experience in the music industry. He described the charges as “untested allegations” that have yet to be reviewed by a grand jury or a judge. Fink stated, “We will handle the matter in a courtroom, and we have great faith in the judges of our district.”
Studio personnel notified the FBI in January regarding the theft, reporting that unreleased music still in development was available on various platforms, such as Reddit and YouTube. An investigation revealed that files had been transferred from a safe hard drive to an external hard drive during Strange’s time at the studio.
Following warnings issued by Fred Nassar, a business associate of Eminem, about the unauthorized distribution of the music, investigators identified buyers. A Canadian individual using the name Doja Rat admitted to purchasing 25 unreleased songs from Strange for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin, which was funded by a group of Eminem fans. Another buyer from Connecticut, identified as ATL, reportedly acquired additional tracks for around $1,000.
An FBI search of Strange’s residence in January uncovered numerous handwritten lyric sheets, a VHS tape containing unreleased video footage, and hard drives containing 12,000 audio files, some representing music from Eminem and other collaborating artists. The affidavit indicated that Strange had signed a severance agreement that strictly prohibited him from distributing Eminem’s work electronically.
In a statement, Beck emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property and the rights of creators against unauthorized reproduction and distribution. Meanwhile, Eminem, who was celebrated as the best hip-hop act at the 2024 MTV EMAs and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, has not publicly commented on the situation.
