Former Eminem Employee Accused of Stealing and Selling Unreleased Music

A former employee of rapper and songwriter Eminem has been accused of stealing unreleased music from the artist’s studio and selling it online.

Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan, is named in a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan, for allegedly stealing and distributing the music without authorization. The investigation began on January 16, 2025, when employees at Eminem’s music studio in Ferndale, Michigan, noticed unreleased music by the artist available for sale on the internet.

The employees recognized the music as tracks that were still in the process of being developed by Eminem and had not yet been released to the public. They discovered an image of a list of tracks that had been taken directly from a hard drive in the Ferndale studio and were being sold on various online platforms.

The FBI was contacted, and agents quickly tracked down multiple individuals who had purchased the unreleased tracks. Through their investigation, they traced the source of the illegal sale back to Strange, who had worked for Eminem from 2007 to 2021.

The U.S. District Attorney’s Office emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property, with Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck stating, “Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others.”

Strange now faces charges related to the infringement of copyright, with a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted on charges related to the interstate transportation of stolen goods, he could face up to 10 years in prison. The investigation was assisted by the FBI’s Oakland County Resident Agency.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson added, “This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding artists’ intellectual property from exploitation by individuals seeking to profit illegally.”

The criminal complaint marks the beginning of the legal process, with further decisions on whether the case will proceed to a trial or felony indictment expected after the investigation is completed.