UK-based DJ Steve Morgan has launched an online fundraising campaign to raise £1,000 to “pay for stolen royalties for Adonis – No Way Back (1986) The first Acid (303) House Track!”
Taking to Facebook Morgan posted, “Did you know Adonis Smith has not received one cent for this tune! Well I am going to write this wrong, even if these shysters wont at Trax Records I have kicked the donations off with my own £10 which someone overpaid to me this week, and wouldnt accept back, so I am paying it forward! #NOWAYBACK #PAYITBACK #PAYITFORWARD #ADONIS 🙂 Please fellow ravers, donate £1, or share if you cant afford it. thank you xxxx”
The campaign has significantly exceeded its goal. As of this writing, over £6,500 has been pledged.
Adonis confirmed on Facebook that he’s never received any royalties from his tracks:
Trax Records has yet to respond publicly about the campaign.
The Chicago-based label has been accused of wrongdoing many times over the years.
DJ Pierre of Phuture once claimed, “Trax never paid me royalties.”
Jamie Principle, who released the house classic “Your Love” via the label in 1986, alleges he wasn’t properly signed to the label, saying they “literally just stole my stuff.”
In April, Larry Sherman, who co-founded the label with Jesse Saunders in 1984, died.