A federal judge earlier this week ruled that Sirius XM Radio Inc. should pay royalties to members of the 1960s pop band, The Turtles, for playing their music, a legal decision that could make it costly for satellite radio and internet radio companies to play classic music.
Members of The Turtles filed a suit in Los Angeles in the previous year asking for royalties from the satellite radio broadcaster. The suit asked for a minimum of $100 million in damages.
The decision may reward The Turtles and other older oldies groups to royalties from Sirius including other online radio companies. The judgment may possess implications for such legacy artists all over the board with similar cases pending across the nation.
The band also have similar suits filed against the online radio company in Florida and NY.
Attorneys for Sirius erred a warning saying that a legal outcome would allow bands to ask for royalties not only from digital music services from radio broadcasters, but also in establishments that play their tunes.
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