Empire Distribution has filed a lawsuit against rapper Lucki, accusing him of breaching their exclusive distribution contract by releasing music through rival platform UnitedMasters. The legal action, filed in San Francisco Superior Court on October 21, stems from Lucki’s release of his single “Not So Virgo of You” through UnitedMasters on October 1, which Empire claims violates their exclusive distribution rights.
According to court documents, Lucki signed a contract renewal with Empire in 2024 that granted the company exclusive distribution rights and options for three additional albums. Empire alleges they have invested markedly in Lucki’s career, paying nearly $10 million in advances since their initial partnership in 2019 and spending over $600,000 on production and studio expenses for his work.
Empire has poured $10 million into Lucki’s career while securing exclusive rights to his music through 2024.
The dispute intensified when Empire issued takedown requests that resulted in the removal of Lucki’s new single from streaming platforms. The label is seeking injunctive relief to prevent future non-Empire releases and wants the court to affirm the 2024 contract as legally binding.
A key point of contention involves Lucki’s attorney allegedly hiding a termination notice within legal correspondence to circumvent Empire’s renewal deadline. This maneuver appears to have precipitated Lucki’s partnership with UnitedMasters, a direct competitor to Empire in the music distribution space. The lawsuit specifically claims this termination notice was deliberately left out of emails sent to Empire to miss contractual deadlines.
Financial terms of the agreement have also become controversial, with Lucki’s team arguing that the 50-50 profit split exceeds industry standards and unfairly favors Empire. Additionally, the contract allows Empire to recoup marketing expenses from the artist’s share of profits, further straining the relationship.
The legal battle has placed Lucki’s upcoming album, “DR*GS R BAD,” in limbo, creating uncertainty for fans who enthusiastically anticipated its release. Empire has characterized the termination notice and subsequent actions by Lucki’s legal team as a bad faith tactic designed to escape contractual obligations. All of Lucki’s previous major albums were distributed through Empire since their partnership began in 2019.
Music industry experts note that Lucki’s situation highlights the importance of understanding royalty collection mechanisms when entering distribution agreements, particularly regarding performance and mechanical rights. This case underscores why many artists today seek sync deals as alternative revenue sources that can provide greater creative and financial control.
As the case progresses, the music industry watches closely, as the outcome could influence how distribution contracts are structured and challenged in the future.
