Bay City Rollers Strike First In Their Battle To Recover Unpaid Royalties From Arista Records
Joshua Krumholz - Boston
Ruling Supports Band's Right To Claims for Millions in Unpaid Royalties
NEW YORK – Two years ago, the Bay City Rollers filed a lawsuit against Arista Records, Inc., claiming that Arista had failed to pay them millions of dollars in royalties over an almost thirty-year period. The suit, filed on behalf of the Scottish band by Holland & Knight, alleges that Arista breached its contract with the Rollers and failed to account for or pay any royalties to the band for years, amounting to many millions of dollars in unpaid royalties.
In response to that lawsuit, Arista filed a motion to dismiss all of the Rollers' claims, asserting that the Rollers were barred from recovery for the millions of dollars that they had generated for the company. In its ruling, the court supported the Rollers' position, with the result that the lawsuit will now go forward without any meaningful impediment to the Rollers' claims.
"Although we are delighted, we are not surprised that the Court denied Arista’s efforts to dismiss the Rollers' claims," said Josh Krumholz of Holland & Knight, lead counsel for the Rollers. "This ruling is a highly significant victory for the Rollers and their efforts to recoup the millions owed to them by Arista Records in unpaid royalties. We now look forward to recovering in full the royalties that they have earned, but have been wrongly withheld from them, together with the interest and damages that is due to them for the many years that their money has been wrongfully withheld.
Learn more about the original Bay City Rollers lawsuit filed in 2007
The Bay City Rollers, also known as the "Rollers," were the UK's biggest selling global act in the 1970s, gaining massive popularity around the world with their clean-cut image, distinctive plaid outfits and upbeat pop hits. For a period of time known as "Rollermania," they enjoyed sell-out tours, hit records and even had their own weekly television series in both the U.S. and UK. At the height of their fame, comparisons to the Beatles' earlier popularity were not uncommon. In total, the Rollers released eight original albums and numerous greatest hits and compilations, including five straight gold records and six singles that made the Top 40 on the U.S. hit charts. Among their many hits were Saturday Night, I Only Want to Be With You and Bye Bye Baby. As proof of their ongoing popularity, Arista's most recent compilation, called Absolute Rollers -- the Very Best of, hit the Top 10 on the UK charts within the last year, and a new Collections CD is due to be released shortly.
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