A Liverpool man has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing Top 40 chart hits online
Wayne Evans was arrested at his home in Everton last September, following a joint investigation between PRS for Music and the City of London’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).
Evans pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to illegally uploading the UK’s Top 40 singles to various torrent sites as they were announced each week by the Official Charts Company.
The 39-year-old was also distributing tracks through his own website including ‘acappella’ music to be used for DJ-ing and remixing. He will be sentenced on November 11.
The City of London’s Detective Constable Steven Kettle, who was in charge of the case, said: “This significant result highlights the issue of digital piracy and its profound effect on the music industry and individual artists whose work is being infringed.
“Evans distributed Top 40 chart music and ‘acappella’ music on a large scale causing significant losses to the industry and he now awaits sentencing.
“This investigation demonstrates PIPCUs commitment in tackling the complex issue of online piracy and the importance of working with our industry partners which includes PRS in achieving the strongest and most successful outcomes.”