Ron Strykert, the lead guitarist of the iconic Australian band Men At Work, is attempting to reclaim royalties from the band’s hit songs that were previously signed away to a US company, Royalty Advance Funding. In 2007, Strykert received a cash advance of US$150,000 (roughly $200,000 at the time) from the company in exchange for the rights to his royalties. Since then, his royalties have been paid to the American firm. Strykert now seeks to stop these payments and have the royalties redirected to him instead.
The Court Case: A Legal Challenge
The dispute is currently being addressed in Victoria’s Supreme Court, where an accountant managing Men At Work’s royalty income has asked the court to decide whether the payments should go to Strykert or remain with Royalty Advance Funding. The specific amount of royalties in question has not been disclosed.
READ MORE: The Seed of the Sacred Fig: Mohammad Rasoulof’s Daring Film from Exile
In a letter to the accountant included in court documents, Strykert expressed that Royalty Advance Funding had already recouped their advance multiple times over. He stated that he had made the agreement during a difficult time in his life and without professional legal advice.
Royalty Advance Funding Responds: “Seller’s Remorse”
Royalty Advance Funding, which has a history of paying cash advances to songwriters in exchange for future royalties, has argued that Strykert’s attempt to reclaim his royalties is a case of “seller’s remorse.” Oliver Omidvar, a representative of the company, likened it to a person selling a house and attempting to reverse the sale years later due to the increased value of the property.
The firm has also pointed to other similar legal challenges in the past, including a 2012 case involving soul songwriter Bobby Womack, who alleged he was misled into signing over his royalties while incapacitated. That case was settled in 2013.
The Role of the Accountant: A Dispute Over Payments
Men At Work’s accountant, Martin Jurblum, has been managing the band’s royalty income since 1981. He told the court that after Strykert’s agreement with Royalty Advance Funding in 2007, he began sending the royalties to a company connected to the Omidvar family, Music Royalty Consulting Inc (MRCI). Payments continued until 2023, when the band’s bank, Macquarie, ceased offering cheques for these royalties. A disagreement over legal arrangements has since halted the payments.
In April 2024, Strykert contacted Jurblum, asking him to stop payments to MRCI and pay him directly. This led to the ongoing Supreme Court action, where a judge is now being asked to decide the rightful recipient of the royalties.
Previous Royalty Disputes
This is not the first time Men At Work has faced legal challenges over royalty payments. In 2010, a Federal Court ruling determined that the flute line in their hit song Down Under infringed upon the copyright of the children’s song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. The band was ordered to pay 5% of the royalties from Down Under to Kookaburra’s publisher, Larrikin Music. This court decision deeply affected Men At Work’s flautist, Greg Ham, who was reportedly devastated by the ruling. Ham passed away in 2012.
Conclusion: A Battle Over Royalties
The legal battle over Strykert’s royalties continues to unfold in court. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future disputes involving advances against royalties, shedding light on the complex and sometimes contentious nature of music industry contracts.
