Surprisingly, Apple Music removed the album “Vultures” by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign on February 15, 2024. The removal was due to legal issues arising from violating the service agreement with the music distribution company, FUGA.
BREAKING: Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s album “Vultures” has been removed from Apple Music. PIC.TWITTER.COM/LGH3Z7BML4
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The album had been released through FUGA’s automated processes by a long-standing client. It was found to violate their service agreement. This led to its sudden removal from Apple Music. The removal was carried out without any initial explanation. This left fans and industry insiders puzzled.
Adding to the situation’s complexity, West’s use of existing music in his work has sparked controversy. One notable instance involves the song “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer. West had requested permission to use the song but was denied. Despite this, he altered the words and had someone re-sign it. Some claimed this was copyright infringement.
In response, FUGA announced they were working to remove “Vultures 1” from their systems. This decision was made in light of violating their service agreement by the client who had released the album.
Despite the initial removal, “Vultures 1” returned to Apple Music hours later. The album’s distributor, FUGA, stated that the upload had violated Apple’s service agreement. However, they didn’t give any further explanation for its reappearance. As of February 15, 2024, “Vultures 1” is also available on other streaming services, including Spotify and Amazon Music.
The album’s removal and subsequent return were not without legal disputes and copyright issues. Donna Summer’s estate claimed that West’s use of “I Feel Love” was done without permission, leading to the removal of the song “Good (Don’t Die)” from Spotify. Additionally, Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, called out West for allegedly sampling the Black Sabbath frontman’s music without permission.
The situation serves as a reminder of the complex legal landscape surrounding music distribution and copyright. Fans and industry insiders will watch closely as the dust settles to see how this situation evolves.
