Bay City Rollers sue for 'unpaid' royalty millions

Published on 21/03/2007 00:06

THE Bay City Rollers yesterday launched a lawsuit demanding tens of millions of pounds in royalties from their record company.

The Scottish band filed a suit in the US District Court in New York claiming Arista Records had failed to account for or pay any royalties over 25 years.

Joshua Krumholtz, lead counsel for the 1970s group, said the Rollers had "remarkable success and staying power over the last 30 years". He added that Arista Records continued to successfully exploit the band's recordings.

The record company released a compilation album last year which made it into the Top Ten album chart and the band's music has been used in merchandising, for downloads and as mobile phone ringtones.

Mr Krumholtz said that, according to the terms of the record company's contract with the Rollers, it should account for and pay royalties twice a year, with obligations dating back to the 1970s.

But he insisted: "Despite that success and Arista's assurances it would pay the band, Arista has refused to do what its own contract requires it to."

He said band members believed tens of millions in royalties were due to them under their agreement with Arista.