Iggy Azalea slams Universal Music: "They owe me millions"
"They are the scummiest company." The rapper did not mince her words when expressing her frustrations with Universal.
Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has labelled Universal Music Group (UMG) "criminals" in a scathing post shared on her X account.
The 'Team' hitmaker made shocking claims against UMG, accusing the company of owing her millions in unpaid royalties.
"Crazy how in my entire career I was never paid a single royalty by Universal Music for anything outside of the USA. They owe me millions of dollars in back pay, that they technically stole from me, as per my contract I am due payment," she wrote.
Azalea, whose real name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, says the amount Universal owes her is in the eight-figure range.
"Last week, they tried to respond to my lawyer and offer me a settlement of 18k. I’m told this is a normal response from their lawyers and after appearing in court they end up paying millions as they’re supposed to," she wrote on March 16.
The 'Black Widow' rapper has vowed to continue her fight for what is due to her.
"Thankfully, I’m well off and can and will pursue this issue until they pay me what they owe. But I’d like to publicly say that I think Universal Music are criminals who actively take advantage of ALL of their artists in perpetuity for their own gain.
"They are the scummiest company, and they do this to SO MANY artists who unfortunately can’t afford to fight for what they’re owed; thus, they get away with this behaviour."
Universal Music has not yet responded to her claims.
Crazy how in my entire career I was never paid a single royalty by universal music for anything outside of the USA.
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) March 15, 2025
They owe me millions of dollars in back pay, that they technically stole from me, as per my contract Iam due payment.
The amount owed is in the 8 figure range.…
Azalea gained worldwide fame with her breakthrough hit 'Fancy' featuring Charli XCX.
The 34-year-old has also collaborated with Britney Spears and Rita Ora.
She's not the only artist who has expressed frustrations with UMG recently. Drake is currently suing the company for defamation over a song Kendrick Lamar released in 2024.
Limp Bizkit sued Universal in 2024 for $200 million in royalties. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the band accused UMG of "fraud, as well as breach of contract and fiduciary duty, for intentionally designing a software system that 'systematically prevented artists from being paid their royalties'."
Universal reportedly described the nonpayment of certain royalties as a “one-off mistake” that occurred after implementing new software, stating that the band were paid $1 million in back royalties.
"Plaintiffs’ entire narrative that UMG tried to conceal royalties is a fiction. Plaintiffs’ complaint fails as a matter of law and should be dismissed with prejudice," a lawyer for the company stated.
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