Curb Records Sues Singer Tim McGraw

McGraw, Borchetta

Country music star Tim McGraw’s newest chart-topping album “Two Lanes of Freedom” is the focus of a new copyright infringement suit filed in federal court by his former record label Curb Records, marking the next chapter in their ongoing legal battle.

According to a story at The Tennessean, Curb alleges McGraw recorded the album’s 15 tracks – including three hit singles, “Truck Yeah!” “One of Those Nights” and “Highway Don’t Care” – while he was still under contract with Curb.

“Two Lanes of Freedom,” released Feb. 15, is the first album Tim McGraw has cut for his new label Big Machine Records, the Nashville recording company founded by record executive Scott Borchetta. The album quickly rose to No. 1 on Billboard’s country charts.

McGraw’s initial 1997 contract was with Curb, the company led by Nashville music mogul Mike Curb and the venture that discovered him some two decades ago. McGraw’s move to leave Curb has pitted the two sides in a high-profile legal dispute since 2011 – one that had appeared nearly over until Monday’s filing.

In the latest complaint, Curb’s legal team says McGraw recorded the songs “Two Lanes of Freedom” – 11 tracks were recorded in November 2011 and the remaining in April 2012 – before the previous album “Emotional Traffic” had been delivered to Curb. McGraw Music LLC and Big Machine LLC are also defendants in the lawsuit, according to court records.

The suit also contends that a 2001 settlement that obligated McGraw produce a greatest hits album, which wasn’t delivered, means Curb is entitled not only to a fifth album but a sixth album.

Read More Now