Former Studio Engineer Charged with Stealing and Selling Unreleased Eminem Music
A former studio engineer who once worked with Eminem has been charged with stealing the rapper’s unreleased music and selling it online, federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
The Allegations
Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan, faces charges of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to 15 years in prison, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck in Detroit.
Authorities allege that Strange illegally accessed password-protected hard drives containing unreleased Eminem songs while working at the rapper’s Ferndale, Michigan, studio. More than 25 of these tracks were leaked online without the consent of Eminem or Interscope Records, which owns the rights to his music.
How the Theft Unfolded
According to an FBI affidavit, between October 2019 and January 2020, Strange transferred files from a secure hard drive to an external device while still employed as a sound engineer at the studio. He was later dismissed from his position in 2021.
In January of this year, studio employees reported the theft to the FBI after discovering that unreleased songs, still in development, were appearing on various websites, including Reddit and YouTube.
Selling Stolen Music
Investigators traced the sale of these stolen tracks to online buyers. One of them, a Canadian user known as “Doja Rat,” told authorities he had purchased 25 unreleased Eminem songs from Strange for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin. The funds were raised by a group of devoted Eminem fans.
Another buyer, identified only as “ATL” from Connecticut, reportedly purchased a few songs for around $1,000.
FBI Raid and Evidence Seized
In a January raid on Strange’s home, FBI agents discovered:
- Handwritten lyric sheets and notes belonging to Eminem
- A VHS tape containing an unreleased Eminem video
- Hard drives storing over 12,000 audio files, including unreleased tracks in various stages of production
Legal and Industry Response
Strange’s attorney, Wade Fink, dismissed the charges as “untested allegations” and expressed confidence in the legal system.
Meanwhile, prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the case. “Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and preventing unauthorized distribution,” Beck said in a statement.
Strange had signed a severance agreement explicitly prohibiting him from electronically distributing Eminem’s work, making his actions a direct violation of that contract.
Eminem’s Career and Ongoing Success
Despite this controversy, Eminem remains a dominant force in the music industry. In 2024, he won Best Hip-Hop Act at the MTV EMAs and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
As the case moves forward, music industry professionals are closely watching how the legal system will handle this high-profile intellectual property theft, reinforcing the importance of protecting artists’ work from unauthorized leaks and exploitation.
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