Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker on royalty dispute: “I didn’t know they were going to sue anyone”

Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has spoken about his surprise at the legal dispute facing Modular Recordings founder Stephen Pavlovic.

The founder, who is no longer involved with the label, is being accused of missing royalties. BMG - who own the publishing rights to Tame Impala’s music - are taking legal action against Modular, Universal Music Australia, and a number of other closely involved subsidiaries.

Speaking to theMusic.com.au, Parker said he was “as surprised and interested as anyone” about the ongoing situation. “When it actually hit the surface, and everyone knew about it, I was as surprised. I didn’t know they were going to sue anyone, I didn’t know there was going to be any suing going on,” he said.

“I knew there was some stuff going on, obviously, and we knew it was going to happen, we knew something was on the horizon… We just didn’t know what was going to happen with it. As far as I was concerned I’d written off that side of things, I’d heard that some money had gone missing, blah blah blah, that’s all I really thought about it.”

Those facing legal action from BMG are being sued for “not only withholding the substantial royalty payments but ignoring legal advice to cease and desist selling operations with regard to Tame Impala’s recordings in the lead-up to finally being served with papers filed with the New York Southern District Court early last month.”

Tame Impala’s ‘Currents’ album is being released on 17th July.