Wacko Jacko and R. Kelly Sue Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club

The New York Post has reported Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and over a dozen music publishers hit Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club with a federal lawsuit for allegedly refusing to pay royalties on songs played in the Manhattan club. According to the lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court yesterday, the 40/40 Club has failed to oblige to the licensing rules with “unauthorized public performance of musical compositions.” Broadcast Music Inc. filed the charges on behalf of the artists, which include Jackson, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Ray Charles, Renald Richard and Pharrell Williams. Broadcast Music is reportedly seeking unspecified damages for copyright infringement. According to the Post, BMI spokesperson, Jerry Baily, says the company has reached out, but ultimately failed to work out a deal with the 40/40 Club to license the rights to some of the 6.5 million songs BMI owns.