Puerto Rican Salsa Singer Wins Royalty Dispute With Band’s Owner

The members of Puerto Rican salsa orchestra El Gran Combo, not the company that owns the band, are entitled to royalties their recordings generated, a federal appeals court ruled.

The band’s former lead vocalist, Carlos Aponte-Cruz, has a right to his portion of royalties, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit said in an opinion by Judge David J. Barron. The court reversed a summary judgment ruling by the district court in favor of the company that owns the band, EGC Corp., and the company’s sole owner, Rafael Ithier.

The royalty provision of the Digital Performance Right in ...