Sunday, June 7, 2026

Sirius Radio Loses Key Motion in Pre- 1972 Cases; Judge Rules Against Them; The Turtles Continue to Make Serious Inroads for Digital Royalties

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EXCLUSIVE Sirius XM has lost its motion for reconsideration in the case brought against them by the Turtles over pre-1972 recordings. The satellite radio company and the Turtles, et al– meaning all artists with records played on Sirius made before February 1972–will only be “happy together” if Sirius pays them. This is a huge decision by the Central District Court of California for all digital entities who’ve used the classic rock and roll library as a free resource.

The Court had already decided against Sirius in favor of the Turtles. Sirius was asking the court reverse its original order. And that was denied.

What’s happening is a watershed for pop artists on digital platforms. All the records fans love by artists like the Beatles, Stones, Aretha, Motown, Atlantic etc — none of them were getting royalties for hits played over and over on Sirius but made before 1972. keep refreshing…

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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