Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has thrust herself back into the spotlight with a bombshell accusation against Universal Music Group. In a series of candid posts on X, Azalea alleged that UMG has failed to pay her millions in unpaid royalties for her music sales and streams outside the United States. She claims the amount owed is in the eight-figure range, totaling at least $10 million, sparking a heated public feud with the label.
Azalea says this dispute with Universal Music Group has been going on for over two years. She took to X to vent her frustration, stating that despite her worldwide success, she has yet to see a single royalty payment for her music outside the U.S. She insists this violates her contract, which guarantees her these earnings. Last week, Universal reportedly offered her a settlement of just $18,000—a sum she called laughably inadequate.
“I’m told this is a normal response from their lawyers and after appearing in court they end up paying millions as they’re supposed to,”
she wrote. Unfazed, Azalea vowed to fight on, saying,
“Thankfully I’m well off and can and will pursue this issue until they pay me what they owe.”
Iggy Azalea’s career has been a mix of dazzling highs and tough battles. She burst onto the scene in 2014 with her debut album, The New Classic, featuring smash hits like “Fancy” and “Black Widow.” The album sold over 5 million copies globally, cementing her status as a pop culture force. Yet her time with Universal Music Group, where she was signed to Island Records, was turbulent. In 2018, she parted ways with the label to join Empire, craving more control over her music and masters.
In 2022, she struck a lucrative deal, selling her master recordings and publishing catalog to Domain Capital for an eight-figure sum. This move showcased her business-savvy nature but didn’t shield her from royalty woes. Azalea’s legal history includes a 2014 lawsuit against an ex-boyfriend for releasing early music and faking a contract, which she won. Today, she’s outspoken about the music industry’s flaws, accusing giants like Universal of shortchanging artists.
In addition to music, Azalea has built herself a financially rewarding niche on OnlyFans, renowned for subscription content. She joined the platform in 2023 with her “Hotter Than Hell” project, which merges music, videos, and artwork. She made $307,000 in her first five days and an astonishing $48 million in her first year. This has been of great help to her financially, as it has given her a creative platform as well as a source of regular income as she navigates her music controversies.
Azalea’s run-in with Universal is not uncommon. There have been royalty wars in the music industry. Courtney Love settled with Vivendi Universal Music Group in 2002 for alleged underpayment despite high sales. In 2024, Limp Bizkit sued for $200 million in unpaid royalties against Universal, suggesting continued tension. These cases reveal a murky reality: royalty accounting can be murky, and artists can feel squeezed by dominant labels. Azalea’s action may prompt others to contest their deals.
So far, the stand-off remains unresolved with Iggy Azalea and Universal Music Group. With her resources and determination at her back, Azalea seems ready for legal confrontation.
