Jimi Hendrix Band Mates Estates File Suit Against Sony Over Jimi Hendrix Experience Royalties

Just weeks after the Jimi Hendrix estate sued the estates of the other two members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, the estates of Redding and Mitchell have sued Sony Music Entertainment for streaming royalties.

After the estates of Otis Redding and Joni Mitchell claimed that the musicians were owed performance payments on around 3 billion streams, the Hendrix estate sued first. On January 18, the Hendrix lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Meanwhile, according to Billboard, the estates of Redding and Mitchell filed a new case against Sony Music Entertainment on February 4 in London’s High Court of Justice.

The Hendrix estate claims that immediately after the iconic singer-guitarist died in 1970, Redding and Mitchell signed away any rights they had. The heirs of Redding and Mitchell, on the other hand, claim that the agreements were flawed and that they are owed millions in royalties. Sony is the exclusive licensee of Jimi Hendrix’s music, so it has a vested interest in the situation.

Representatives for the families of Redding and Mitchell sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hendrix’s music in December 2021, claiming a stake in Hendrix’s music. The Hendrix estate then filed a lawsuit, requesting a judicial finding that would support their argument that no more money was payable.

Over two years, The Jimi Hendrix Experience released three studio albums: Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland in 1967 and 1968, respectively. On September 18, 1970, Hendrix passed away. Noel Redding died on May 11, 2003, and Mitch Mitchell died on November 12, 2008.