SiriusXM Drops Counterclaims in $150M SoundExchange Royalties Dispute
SiriusXM has voluntarily dismissed its counterclaims against SoundExchange in their ongoing dispute over allegedly unpaid royalties, though the core legal battle continues. The satellite radio company had initially filed counterclaims in August, seeking to recover allegedly overpaid royalties and challenging SoundExchange's choice of auditing firm.
SiriusXM has voluntarily dismissed its counterclaims against SoundExchange, though the underlying unpaid royalties battle is still in full swing. Photo Credit: SoundExchange
The original lawsuit, filed by SoundExchange, claims SiriusXM owes over $150 million in royalties, primarily due to alleged revenue misrepresentations in combined satellite and online radio packages. The dispute centers on different royalty calculation requirements for satellite versus digital packages, with SoundExchange asserting that SiriusXM inflated webcasting values to reduce bundle royalty payments.
While the counterclaims dismissal might suggest progress toward resolution, recent court activities indicate otherwise. The judge recently approved a briefing schedule for SiriusXM's motion to dismiss, with key deadlines:
- October 28: SiriusXM's moving brief
- November 26: SoundExchange's opposition brief
- December 18: SiriusXM's reply brief
A status conference on October 17th revealed ongoing disagreements between the parties. Additionally, SiriusXM faces a separate rate court dispute with BMI over terms for 2022-2026.
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