Amazon Music, DistroKid Face Major Lawsuit for Unpaid Royalties, Shadowbanning

Core Points - Marc Mysterio, an award-winning musician, is suing Amazon and DistroKid for alleged improper compensation related to over 80 million streams on Amazon Music from September 2023 to August 2024 [2][3][6] - The lawsuit claims that fans have experienced a "streaming error" since September 10, 2024, due to "shadow-banning," which is said to block or partially block content without the artist's knowledge [3][4] - The attorney for Marc Mysterio argues that shadow-banning is an unfair practice that manipulates music charts and harms creators [4][6] Summary by Sections Artist Background - Marc Mysterio has collaborated with notable artists and has a significant following, with over 1.25 million fans and 15 million unique listeners in 2024 [2][5] - He has been involved in philanthropy, supporting causes like the One Fund Boston and WBC Cares [1] Legal Action - The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking compensation for lost royalties and an end to the shadow-ban [4][6] - The claim includes that DistroKid was responsible for distributing Mysterio's music and ensuring he received 100% of the royalties, while Amazon charged fans for streaming [6] Impact of Shadow-Banning - The shadow-ban has reportedly affected not only Mysterio but also other artists distributed by UnitedMasters, indicating a broader issue within the streaming platform [5] - The attorney estimates that losses due to the shadow-ban are already in the millions and will continue to grow [6]