Miami Music Seller Hit With Multiple Charges in Bootlegging Case

September 15, 2015 - Target Music Distributors in Miami was served yesterday with a multi-million dollar lawsuit, including criminal charges under California law, by Nashville record company Gusto Records, Inc.

Gusto's Chairman, Moe Lytle, confirmed that this suit is the beginning of Gusto's campaign to stop the flood of compact discs and vinyl LPs manufactured in Europe and sold illegally in the United States.

Mr. Lytle stated: "Target's intentional evasion of United States' laws should not be used to compete unfairly with law-abiding American businesses. It not only deprives artists and publishers of royalties, but also allows Target to undercut Gusto and other record companies who do comply with the law."

The complaint accuses Target of buying compact discs, containing songs belonging to Gusto, that are manufactured in Europe without Gusto's authorization and then selling them at below-market prices throughout the United States.

Gusto has been selling music on vinyl, tape and compact disc for decades. Its catalog includes some of the best known country, bluegrass, rhythm & blues and classic 50's and 60's rock 'n roll music there is.

Gusto owns such famous record labels as King Records, Starday Records, Scepter Records and Musicor Records, among many others.

These labels include recordings by such well known artists as George Jones, Red Sovine, The Shirelles, B.J. Thomas, Gene Pitney, The Stanley Brothers, Mel Street, The Isley Brothers, Floyd Cramer, Little Willie John and many others.

The suit seeks damages for common law copyright infringement, unauthorized use of Gusto's sound recordings and criminal bootlegging under California law.

Case #: BC592228
Filed on August 24, 2015 at the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles
Attorney for Plaintiff:
Robert S. Besser SBN 46541
Law Offices of Robert S. Besser
17383 Sunset Boulevard, Suite A-350

Contact:
Stephen Hawkins
Senior Vice-President, Gusto Records, Inc.
stephenh@kingrecords.com