The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has launched a major takedown action against Spotify, targeting over 2,500 alleged instances of copyright infringement in podcasts. This action comes amid an ongoing dispute over Spotify’s recent reclassification of its U.S. subscriptions as bundles. This business decision has reportedly saved the company over $100 million in compositional royalties.
History of Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Material
The conflict began in May 2024 when the NMPA sent a cease-and-desist letter to Spotify, addressing concerns about unauthorized use of lyrics, music videos, and musical works in podcasts without proper compensation to publishers. The current takedown initiative represents an escalation of this dispute. This renewed effort follows the January 2025 dismissal of a Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) lawsuit challenging Spotify’s bundling practices.
Podcast Takedown Action Details
Key aspects of the current situation:
- The takedown action involves 19 member publishers, including major publishing companies.
- NMPA CEO David Israelite criticized Spotify’s “bundling scheme” and its appeal of songwriter rate increases.
- The NMPA promises to continue issuing takedown notices beyond the initial 2,500 cases.
Spotify’s Response to Takedown Action
Spotify has dismissed the action as a “weak reaction” to the MLC lawsuit dismissal. The streaming company criticized the NMPA’s timing, noting they had previously requested details about the alleged infringement. According to Spotify, they remain committed to removing episodes “where appropriate” as part of their normal content moderation process.
How Common is Copyright Infringement in Podcasts?
The potential Spotify podcast copyright infringement appears to be widespread. These infringements include:
- TikTok video compilations with music
- Unauthorized mixtapes
- Television episodes with music
- Unauthorized concert recordings
This latest action highlights ongoing tensions between music publishers and streaming platforms over compensation and content usage rights.