Rob Zombie and Whitesnake to sue UMG

Rob Zombie and WHITESNAKE have recently filed a federal class action against UMG Recordings (Universal Music Group), accusing the label of not paying artists to license their music as digital downloads and ringtones.

The suit also follows a victory on similar grounds by producers of Eminem's early recordings and the estate of Rick James.

"Plaintiffs here allege, and the Ninth Circuit found, that digital download and ringtone income received by UMG derives from a license," according to the complaint.

"By this lawsuit, Plaintiffs seek to compel UMG to account to and pay its other recording artists and music producers (i.e. those not directly involved in the [Eminem] litigation) their rightful share of the licensing income paid to UMG for downloads and mastertones [ringtones] of the recorded music licensed by UMG to these entities," the lawsuit states.