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Shadowban Lawsuit Attorney Vs. Amazon Music Cites Federal Circuit-Recognized Filter Similarity
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-04-18 10:30
Core Viewpoint - Marc Mysterio is intensifying his legal battle against Amazon Music and DistroKid, alleging that a shadowban has suppressed his music's visibility, resulting in significant financial losses [2][5]. Legal Allegations - Mysterio's legal team claims that Amazon Music employed a filter that erased his artist metadata, which they argue is similar to Amazon's conditional logic filters used in previous cases [3][4]. - The alleged filter replaced Mysterio's name with a dash, rendering his songs "artist-less" and invisible on music stations, disconnecting him from 1.25 million fans and 55% of his streams [4]. Streaming Impact - Mysterio experienced a drop in streams from over 80 million to near zero by September 16, 2024, with evidence presented in a YouTube series showing streaming errors and a lack of songs in his station mix [5]. - The drop included over 3.7 million streams on Taylor Swift's Amazon Artist Station, indicating a broader impact on his visibility and revenue [5]. Evidence and Demands - Mysterio's legal team has requested 17 categories of evidence from Amazon, including metadata logs, to expose the activation of the alleged filter [7]. - The restoration of Mysterio's 'Related Artists' section by Amazon post-lawsuit is cited as evidence of their control, yet he claims the shadowban persists [7]. Industry Implications - The case raises concerns about data manipulation by Amazon, potentially undermining independent charts like Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs [8]. - Mysterio calls for solidarity among artists, urging figures like Taylor Swift to support his cause against platform suppression, framing it as an existential battle for creators [8]. Artist Background - Marc Mysterio is a Billboard-charting artist with over 80 million streams and 1.25 million fans on Amazon Music, known for collaborations with notable artists [9]. - He is also an undefeated boxer and has publicly challenged Jake Paul, further increasing his visibility in both music and sports [9].
Marc Mysterio Calls on Taylor Swift to Pull Catalog From Amazon Music Over Unpaid Streams, Shadow-Ban Controversy
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-04-09 10:00
Core Viewpoint - Marc Mysterio has publicly called on Taylor Swift to withdraw her music catalog from Amazon Music due to alleged unpaid royalties and digital suppression affecting his music career [1][3]. Group 1: Allegations Against Amazon Music - Mysterio claims he is owed millions for over 80 million streams, including nearly 4 million from Swift's Amazon Music artist station, while facing a shadow-ban that has disconnected him from his 1.25 million fans [1][6]. - He alleges that Amazon's refusal to pay and only partial fixes demonstrate an intent to suppress his music, as they did not remove the shadow-ban despite acknowledging some issues [6][8]. Group 2: Mysterio's Demands - Mysterio's demands include full payment for all streaming activity tied to his ASIN, immediate removal of the shadow-ban, and a direct line of communication with Swift to discuss the situation [7][8]. - He references Swift's history of taking a stand against unfair pay, suggesting that her withdrawal from Amazon Music could pressure the platform to address his claims [5][8]. Group 3: Personal Connection - The appeal to Swift is based on their mutual connection through WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Jeff Jarrett, who was a friend to both artists [2][5]. - Mysterio emphasizes the importance of Swift's influence in the industry and her previous actions to support artists' rights, hoping she will advocate for him in this situation [3][5].
Marc Mysterio's Attorney: Amazon is ‘playing god with data' Billboard uses for charts
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-04-08 13:51
Core Viewpoint - Marc Mysterio is escalating his lawsuit against Amazon Music and DistroKid, alleging that Amazon employed a shadow-ban on his music, significantly impacting his reach and potential earnings [1][2]. Legal Action - The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming damages "in excess of $75,000" and alleging millions in losses due to the shadow-ban [2]. - Mysterio's legal team is preparing to serve a letter of preservation of evidence to Amazon Music, targeting 17 categories of evidence related to the shadow-ban [1][6]. Shadow-Ban Details - The shadow-ban, initiated on September 10, 2024, utilized an "IF/THEN" filter that rendered Mysterio's tracks "artist-less," preventing them from reaching his 1.25 million fans and affecting his visibility on Amazon Music [2][3]. - The ban has implications for chart integrity, particularly affecting Mysterio's standings on the Billboard Hot Dance and Electronic Songs Chart [3][4]. Evidence and YouTube Series - Mysterio's 3-part YouTube series highlights discrepancies in streaming data, showcasing how his music was blocked while other artists' tracks were promoted [5][6]. - The series includes evidence of streaming errors and contrasts Mysterio's station performance with that of other artists, emphasizing the impact of the shadow-ban [5]. Amazon's Response - Amazon partially restored Mysterio's "Related Artists" section but did not remove the shadow-ban, which Mysterio's legal team argues demonstrates intent to cause harm [6][7]. - The legal team claims that Amazon's actions indicate a manipulation of data that undermines the credibility of independent charts [4][7]. Artist Background - Marc Mysterio is a seasoned artist with over 80 million streams from September 2023 to August 2024, and he has collaborated with notable artists [3][8]. - He previously pulled his catalog from competing platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, raising concerns about how Amazon treats its exclusive artists [9].
Amazon Music, DistroKid Face Major Lawsuit for Unpaid Royalties, Shadowbanning
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-03-10 13:02
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]
Marc Mysterio Sues Amazon Music For “Millions” Alleging Tortious Market Manipulation/Interference via “Shadow-Ban” and Unpaid Royalties
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-03-06 11:02
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 [3][5] - The lawsuit claims that fans have experienced a "streaming error" since September 10, 2024, due to a "shadow-ban" that affects the visibility of his music [3][6] - Mysterio's attorney argues that the shadow-banning practice is unfair and manipulates music charts to the detriment of artists [7] Summary by Category Artist Background - Marc Mysterio is a multi-faceted celebrity who has collaborated with notable artists and has a significant following on platforms like Amazon Music [1][2] - He has received over 80 million streams and has appeared on US Billboard and Amazon's Top-Songs Chart [2] Legal Action - Mysterio is suing Amazon and DistroKid for not properly compensating him for his music streams, claiming losses in the millions due to the shadow-ban [3][5] - The lawsuit aims to ensure Mysterio receives the royalties he is owed and addresses future losses caused by the shadow-ban [4][5] Streaming Issues - Fans have reported a "streaming error" when trying to access Mysterio's music, which is attributed to the shadow-ban [3][6] - The shadow-ban is described as a tactic that limits the visibility of successful artists' content, impacting their ability to chart effectively [7]