Spinal Tap creators to “eventually” gain rights to the band’s recordings
The band members and the director have settled a dispute with Universal Music Group.
Image: David Corio / Getty
A dispute regarding recording royalties, taking place between the director and stars of 1984 rock-mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and Universal Music Group, has been settled.
The suit was initiated in 2016 by the fictional band’s bassist, Harry Shearer. Shearer’s production company, Century of Progress Productions, alleged that the original creators of the film had earned less than $200 from music sales and merchandising income related to the film between 1984 and 2006. Other Spinal Tap members Christopher Guest and Michael McKean and director Rob Reiner joined the proceedings in 2017.
The two parties have come to an agreement regarding the recordings, the terms of which have not been disclosed. The settlement statement says that “eventually the rights will be given to the creators. The parties look forward to making these beloved recordings available to existing and new Spinal Tap fans for years to come.”
However, as Billboard reports, despite the settlement in terms of the band’s recordings, the dispute regarding royalties from This is Spinal Tap and the alleged breach of contract by Studio Canal and Ron Halpern is still ongoing.
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