Dancehall legend Rodney Price better known as Bounty Killer, has filed a lawsuit against a British publisher in the London High Court to recover millions in revenue owed to him.
According to the document, the deejay is suing Othman Mukhlis and two companies, namely Jamdown Limited and Abood Music Limited, both owned by Mukhlis. The entities were responsible for collecting royalties on his behalf for the past 19 years (2002-2021).
As reported by the litigation filed on June 14, 2022., Mukhlis allegedly misled Bounty Killer. They told him that it would be better if he collected the artist’s publishing royalties in the UK since withholding tax would take a considerable amount—30 percent of the money he receives.
In exchange for a 15% collection fee of the total amounts received, Mukhlis agreed to collect public performance royalties from the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPS) and the Performing Rights Society (PRS) on Bounty’s behalf.
Bounty Killer asserts that throughout the period, Mukhlis’ businesses Jamdown and Abood received more than £325,000 (J$60 million) in unpaid royalties from PPS and PRS.
Uncertainty surrounds the ownership of the song masters for Bounty and whether the label is suing Mukhlis for the label’s portion of the master royalties. According to the complaint filed by Bounty Killer, Mukhlis “acknowledged that monies were due to Mr Price” in 2020, but only transferred him £8,477.
Bounty Killer is asking the court for royalties owing since 2002 and interest accrued over a 19-year period. The singer has also requested that the court rule that all funds collected by Mr. Mukhlis, Jamdown, and/or Abood are held in a trust for him.
