Former Eminem Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Unreleased Music
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Joseph Strange, a former Eminem sound engineer, pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement for stealing and selling unreleased Eminem music that leaked online in January 2025.
- Strange sold over 25 unreleased songs to individuals, including one who paid $50,000, resulting in more than eight million unauthorized accesses and an estimated $750,000 in damages by November 2025.
- The Department of Justice emphasized the seriousness of Strange's breach of trust and its commitment to protecting intellectual property, while Strange's attorney described the case as more complex and expressed concern about the public portrayal of Strange.
- FBI investigations led to the seizure of hard drives containing unreleased music from Strange’s residence, with multiple studio employees and streaming data aiding the case.
- Strange faces up to five years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on January 27, 2027.
