Ex-Eminem Employee Charged For Leaking Unreleased Tracks

A former employee of rapper Eminem has been charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly selling the artist’s unreleased music, Rolling Stone reports.

According to an official complaint, the FBI was alerted on January 16, 2025, when staff at Eminem’s Michigan recording studio discovered that unreleased tracks had surfaced online for sale. A leaked image circulating on the internet showed a list of the tracks, which the studio staff identified as originating from a hard drive within their premises.

The FBI investigation traced multiple buyers of the unauthorized music, who pointed to Joseph Strange, a former employee of Eminem’s team from 2007 to 2021, as the source. The leaked tracks were still in development when they were stolen, making the sale a serious violation of intellectual property rights.

Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck emphasized the importance of protecting creative content, stating, “Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators.”

If convicted, Strange faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for copyright infringement, along with up to ten years for transporting stolen goods.

The case underscores the growing threat of digital leaks in the music industry, where unauthorized distribution can cause significant financial and artistic damage.