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LyricFind Accuses Musixmatch of Antitrust Violations in Warner Chappell Deal Dispute

By  |  June 9, 2025

The legal feud between competing lyrics providers LyricFind and Musixmatch has intensified, with Musixmatch moving to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit filed against it earlier this year. According to a legal filing made public by Music Business Worldwide, Musixmatch labeled the case “meritless” and asserted that LyricFind is attempting to gain through litigation what it allegedly failed to secure in the marketplace.

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    The dispute centers on Musixmatch’s exclusive licensing agreement with Warner Chappell Music, a deal LyricFind claims resulted in the loss of contracts worth tens of millions of dollars. The lawsuit, originally filed in a California court in March, alleges that the deal was part of an anti-competitive strategy that unfairly disadvantaged LyricFind.

    Per the statement filed by Musixmatch, the company contests the characterization of the dispute as an antitrust issue. The response argues that Musixmatch’s market position has been exaggerated and that the legal claims do not meet the necessary threshold for an antitrust violation. Additionally, Musixmatch disputes the jurisdiction of the California court, noting that the agreement in question was made between an Italian-based firm and Warner Chappell’s UK division.

    “Stripped of buzzwords and hyperbole, the core of LyricFind’s complaint is simply that WCM chose Musixmatch instead of LyricFind,” the filing states, casting the issue as a business rivalry rather than a legal infraction.

    LyricFind, however, is standing firm. According to a statement from CEO Darryl Ballantyne, the company views the deal as part of a broader strategy to edge out competition after an attempted acquisition fell through. “As revealed in our now unredacted complaint, we allege this was a classic ‘buy or bury’ scheme,” Ballantyne said. “When Musixmatch/TPG tried and failed to buy our company, they then sought to bury us through this exclusive deal.”

    He further emphasized the broader impact of the case, stating, “We are standing up not just for ourselves, but for everyone else in the music streaming ecosystem who we allege will be harmed if Musixmatch’s power is left unchecked.”

    LyricFind’s legal counsel, Kellie Lerner, also challenged Musixmatch’s attempt to reframe the issue. Per statement, Lerner criticized the opposing company’s reliance on copyright law as a deflection tactic, asserting, “As expected, Musixmatch hides behind copyright law and attempts to mischaracterise our serious antitrust allegations as a run of the mill business dispute.”

    Source: Musically