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On May 15, 2024, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) sent Spotify a copyright demand letter alleging unlicensed uses of musical works in lyrics, music videos and podcasts, and warning that a planned remix feature could raise further rights issues. Spotify disputed the accusations in a response quoted by contemporaneous reporting. The letter was a private demand—not a court ruling that Spotify infringed copyright.
What the NMPA letter alleged
NMPA EVP and General Counsel Danielle Aguirre sent the letter to Spotify USA Inc. It was addressed to David Kaefer, Spotify’s vice president and global head of music and audiobook businesses, and General Counsel Eve Konstan. The association said it was acting for publishers and songwriter partners who own or control musical-work copyrights. The letter alleged that Spotify displayed lyrics and reproduced and distributed music videos and podcasts using musical works without the relevant publishers’ or administrators’ consent or compensation. NMPA said some uses were unlicensed already or would soon become unlicensed.
Aguirre wrote that “Spotify thus appears to be engaged in direct infringement by hosting unlicensed musical works in its lyrics, videos, and podcasts, and by distributing unauthorized reproductions, synchronizations, displays, and derivative uses of these musical works to its users.” That wording states NMPA’s accusation; it is not a finding by a court.
Why the proposed remix feature was mentioned
The letter also warned about a then-proposed remix feature that, as NMPA described it, would let subscribers speed up, mash up and otherwise edit songs. NMPA argued that launching it without proper licenses could create additional direct-infringement issues. The letter addressed a proposed feature and expressed a risk, not a determination about a launched product.
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What NMPA demanded
NMPA demanded removal of allegedly unlicensed lyrics, music videos and podcasts. Aguirre wrote: “Accordingly, on behalf of our members, NMPA demands that unlicensed lyrics, music videos, and podcasts be removed from the platform or Spotify will face copyright liability for continued use of these works.” The letter also requested preservation of relevant electronically stored information and suspension of related automatic deletion. It reserved possible remedies, including monetary damages and attorneys’ fees. The letter did not name example works, state how many works were at issue or calculate damages.
How the rights questions differ
NMPA’s argument was not that every ordinary Spotify stream or download was outside a licensing framework. The letter acknowledged that Spotify’s primary use of musical works through interactive streams and downloads is subject to the statutory mechanical license under 17 U.S.C. § 115 and public-performance licenses governed by consent decrees. NMPA’s position was that lyrics and music used in videos and podcasts, as well as proposed remix uses, required separately negotiated rights. That is the association’s legal theory in this letter, not a general legal ruling about every use of music on Spotify.
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| Use discussed | NMPA’s position in the letter | Status in the letter |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary interactive streams and downloads | The letter acknowledged the statutory mechanical-license framework and public-performance licenses governed by consent decrees. | Described as existing licensing frameworks for Spotify’s primary use of musical works. |
| Lyrics, music videos and podcasts | NMPA asserted that the relevant uses required rights beyond those frameworks and alleged that some uses lacked consent or compensation. | Demanded removal of allegedly unlicensed material. |
| Proposed remix feature | NMPA warned that editing songs could require proper licenses and could raise further infringement issues. | A warning about a then-proposed feature, not a court’s assessment of a launched feature. |
Spotify’s response
In a statement quoted by Android Headlines on May 17, 2024, Spotify called the letter “a press stunt with false and deceptive accusations.” The outlet also quoted Spotify as saying it hosts licensed content and has a framework for rights holders to contact the company about music they believe is unlicensed. This is Spotify’s reported position, not an adjudicated conclusion about the disputed uses.
Was Spotify found liable?
No. The May 15, 2024 letter records NMPA’s allegations and demands; it does not establish that a court found infringement or imposed liability. Spotify disputed the accusations in the response reported by Android Headlines. The letter itself supplies no quantified count of works or damages.
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How Spotify describes its general copyright-claim process
Spotify’s intellectual-property policy says rights holders or their agents can submit an infringement notice through a web form or a designated copyright agent. The policy asks claimants to identify the work and its location, provide contact details, make good-faith and accuracy statements, and sign the notice. Spotify says it reviews claims and may remove material or disable access in particular countries; it also describes an appeal opportunity in some cases. This is a general claims process and does not say how Spotify handled NMPA’s letter.
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