Eminem Leak: Man Charged With Stealing and Selling Unreleased Music

variety.com:

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer A man has been charged with stealing and selling unreleased Eminem music that leaked to the web earlier this year.

Federal prosecutors charged former Eminem employee Joseph Strange with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods after he allegedly sold the rapper’s music to individuals who put more than 25 songs online in January.

In a statement shared with Variety, Eminem’s longtime spokesperson Dennis Dennehy said that the rapper is pleased with the latest development in the case. “Eminem and his team are very appreciative of the efforts by the FBI Detroit bureau for its thorough investigation which led to the charges against Joe Strange,” he said. “The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work.

We will continue to take any and all steps necessary to protect Eminem’s art and will stop at nothing to do so.” According to a criminal complaint filed today and reviewed by Variety, Strange was a former sound engineer for Eminem from 2007 until 2021 who worked at a recording studio in Ferndale, Mich., and had access to the music that leaked.