Doobie Brothers frontman Michael McDonald has become the latest artist to file a lawsuit against his record label over royalties, Billboard reports.
McDonald's lawyer has filed a lawsuit on his behalf in the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee in Nashville, claiming that Warner Music Group has been paying him standard royalties for downloads rather than 50 percent of net receipts, after a recent victory on behalf of Eminem set a legal precedent that downloads count as licensed sales. Most major label contracts signed prior to the mid-90's entitle artists to 50 percent of revenue generated from licensed sales.
The filing on behalf of McDonald alleges that the singer is owed at least $500,000 in damages from lost royalties. McDonald joins an ever-growing list of artists filing similar lawsuits, including Kenny Rogers, Peter Frampton and Chuck D of Public Enemy.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.