Over 25 unreleased tracks from rap legend Eminem have been stolen and sold online, leading to criminal charges against a former studio engineer, per sky.com. Joseph Strange, 46, from Michigan, has been accused of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to FBI prosecutors.
The stolen music, stored on password-protected hard drives in a safe at Eminem’s Ferndale studio, was allegedly transferred to an external hard drive by Strange during his tenure as a sound engineer in 2019 and 2020. The theft was reported to the FBI in January 2025 after the unreleased tracks began appearing on platforms like Reddit and YouTube.
Acting US Attorney Julie Beck stated that Strange, who was fired from the studio in 2021, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Strange has denied the charges, with his attorney, Wade Fink, calling them “untested allegations” that will be addressed in court.
Investigators traced the leaked music to buyers, including a Canadian fan who paid $50,000 in Bitcoin for 25 songs. Another group of fans reportedly purchased tracks for $1,000. Eminem’s team has issued warnings against distributing the stolen material, but the incident has already sparked widespread attention.
- Featured image: Eminem/AP
