Three Four Tet albums released through Domino Recordings have disappeared from streaming services. The move comes as the artist continues a legal dispute with the label over royalties.
Back in August, Four Tet (real name Kieran Hebden) took action against Domino Recordings over streaming and download royalty rates applied to his work from the ’90s. In the suit, Hebdan asserts that he should receive a 50% royalty rate on all streams and downloads. The reason, he says, is that the cost of releasing music digitally is significantly cheaper, and therefore he should receive more of the revenue. He also seeks up to £70,000 (roughly $93,000) in damages.
In retaliation, Domino Recordings removed three albums from streaming services: Pause, Rounds, and Everything Ecstatic. Hebden took to Twitter to voice his frustration. “I’m so upset to see that Domino Recordings have removed the three albums of mine they own from digital and streaming services,” he said. In a multi-tweet thread he went on to speak about his lawsuit and voice his opinion on royalty sharing in the digital era.
Domino Records released a statement to Pitchfork regarding the situation. “Domino are just as saddened about this current situation,” it reads. “The decision to temporarily remove the three Four Tet albums from digital services was not taken lightly.”