In a striking turn of events, Irish-Canadian artist Marc Mysterio, represented by attorney Michael H. Joseph, is escalating a legal battle against Amazon Music, claiming the tech giant is "playing god" with the data used for music charts. This comes as Mysterio's powerful 3-part YouTube series reveals troubling allegations of a shadow-ban placed on his music via Amazon’s IF/THEN protocol.

The lawsuit, filed on February 27, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and highlights a drastic financial impact, with losses reported in the millions. Mysterio alleges that Amazon instituted a shadow-ban on his music on September 10, 2024, rendering his tracks "artist-less" and cutting him off from his 1.25 million fans on the platform, as well as denying him features typically available to artists, including playlist placements and AI integrations.

Mysterio, a seasoned figure in the music industry with a career spanning two decades and over 80 million streams between September 2023 and August 2024—of which 55% came from Amazon—claims that the shadow-ban undermines not just his career but the integrity of music charts, particularly the Billboard Hot Dance and Electronic Songs Chart. He argues that by shadow-banning him, Amazon can manipulate chart positions, thereby affecting the credibility of Billboard's assessments.

The controversy deepens with Mysterio pointing out a comparison in algorithm-driven streams, illustrating that while lesser-known artists like "Neon Tom" are receiving significant plays, his music has dried up despite high listener statistics. Mysterio's YouTube series details these discrepancies, showcasing examples of "streaming errors" and contrasting his music's performance against other artists.

Joseph makes a compelling argument, noting Amazon's partial restoration of Mysterio's "Related Artists" section without clearing the shadow-ban itself. "They showed they could fix it but didn’t," Joseph stated, emphasizing that this is more than an oversight; it signifies a deliberate attempt to harm Mysterio's career.

As the legal tussle unfolds, Mysterio's case is bolstered by the collected evidence which includes metadata logs, algorithm trails, and user metrics clearly indicating the scope of the alleged shadow-ban. This legal strategy is aiming not only for restoration of his reputation but also punitive damages for the distress caused.

Notably, Mysterio's illustrious career features collaborations with artists such as David Guetta, Flo Rida, and others, along with accolades including an IFPI Gold Award for contributions to the Netflix series "Trailer Park Boys." His rich background in music makes these allegations even more concerning, as he emphasizes the broader implications for artists relying on platforms like Amazon Music.

As this high-stakes legal battle intensifies, the music industry watches closely, contemplating the ramifications for data integrity, artist rights, and the future of music distribution in a digital age. Mysterio's journey from an exclusive Amazon artist back to fighting for his place in the industry sends a strong message about the power dynamics between artists and streaming giants. Stay tuned as this story continues to unfold.