HHNLive.com has learned that Universal Music Group has asked NYC's DJ Swindle to cease promotion/downloads of his "80 Cent" mixtape CD and have seized and deleted the "80 Cent" Myspace page. Swindle received notice from Universal Music Group via lawyers February 10th. Swindle explains the situation in a statement to HHNLive.com:

"My name is DJ Swindle, I'm out of New York City. As you may know I have produced 4 popular mash-up remix CDs which have been featured on MTV, XXL Magazine and I was recently nominated for mash-up artist of the year at Justo's Mixtape Awards. Anyway I was contacted today by lawyers from Universal Music Group trying to shut down my "80 Cent" mash-up which combines 50 Cent acapellas over beats I produced using classic 80's songs. They say it violates copyrights of 50 Cent's songs when most people agree these types of mixtapes contribute hugely to the promotions of the artists being used.

They froze and deleted my popular "DJ Swindle-80 Cent" Myspace page and are threatening over-the-top legal action against me. They are shooting themselves in the foot by attacking mixtape artists and the mixtape industry. Mixtapes are arguably one of the most powerful promotional devices a major record label has these days and they're biting the hand that feeds them, especially in the transitional period we're in today where physical CD sales are quickly becoming a thing of the past and are being replaced with information sharing and downloading.

I have very strong opinions on how to "save" the music industry and it does involve some pretty radical departures from where we're at today. Mixtape artists are the new radio DJs who breaks new artists and promote existing ones, that is sacred in so many ways and major labels who want to survive better learn to embrace us mixtape artists rather than attempt to shut us down. And one of the main questions I have is WHY would they put acapellas on the B-sides of records if they didn't want me to remix it??!!!
-Swindle - www.djswindle.com "