Music streaming service Pandora is in hot water as record labels launch a legal assault on its use of songs recorded before 1972.

According to The Wall Street Journal, labels such as Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group Corp are accusing the online radio business of copyright infringement from not paying licence fees for songs recorded before 1972.

From The Wall Street Journal and The Australian: “The labels argue that songs such as Aretha Franklin's ‘Respect’ and the Beatles' ‘Hey Jude’ aren't covered by federal copyright law, but they have been protected in common law by states including New York.”

From the lawsuit filed, the labels say many artists have been deprived of millions of dollars from services such as Pandora.