Nu-metal icons Limp Bizkit are taking their fight to the courts, filing a staggering $200 million lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over claims of withheld royalties. The suit was filed today in Los Angeles’ Central District, and it alleges that UMG has deliberately kept the band in the dark about their earnings, despite a resurgence in their popularity.
Frontman Fred Durst and the band claim that UMG not only failed to pay them what they are owed but also constructed royalty systems specifically designed to obscure artists’ earnings. According to the lawsuit, this manipulation has left Limp Bizkit and potentially hundreds of other artists shortchanged.
While UMG has chosen to remain silent on the allegations, Limp Bizkit’s legal team asserts that the complaint is self-explanatory. In a troubling revelation, Durst has stated that he only recently learned from his new legal representation, appointed in April 2024, that he had never received any money from the band’s various exploitations.
The suit highlights that UMG claimed to be withholding royalty payments due to an alleged $43 million spent on Limp Bizkit that they had not recouped. However, when Durst reached out to the former owner of Flip Records—the label that initially signed the band in 1996—he discovered that Flip was reaping the benefits of renewed interest in Limp Bizkit, while he saw none of it.
Despite the band’s assets growing by an impressive 68% over the past year, they allege that UMG has continued to deceive them, particularly given that this surge occurred without the release of new music. In light of these claims, Durst is seeking to void all contracts with UMG on behalf of Limp Bizkit and his own label, Flawless Records. The lawsuit includes charges of breach of contract, fraudulent concealment, copyright infringement, and more.
As Limp Bizkit gears up for a legal battle, it’s clear they are determined to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
