Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime Bennington recently raised concerns about Linkin Park’s handling of his late father’s merchandise. This follows the band’s recent concert cancellation in Bern due to health issues, as reported by Jamie on Instagram.
The accusation centers on the fact that the Chester Bennington Store website now redirects visitors to Linkin Park’s official website. Jaime linked this redirect to the band’s explanation for their canceled performance.
Jaime Bennington said, “When Linkin Park explains the cancellation [of the Bern show], they will also explain why the Chester Bennington Store now leads directly to the Linkin Park website?”
Jaime shared Little Simz’s song “Thief” alongside his statement to emphasize his stance on the matter. This suggests he views the band’s actions as theft.
The merchandise dispute highlights the ongoing financial complexities surrounding Chester Bennington’s estate and legacy management since his passing in 2017.
Alfreton Town Football Club reported that merchandise played a significant role in building Chester Bennington’s estate, valued at $30 million. This estate included music rights and royalties. The Chester Bennington Store was initially promoted as official merchandise created by his estate to honor his legacy. However, the recent redirect to Linkin Park’s site has become a contentious issue for family members.
The financial stakes remain substantial even years after Chester’s passing. Finance Monthly reported that the band’s catalog continues to earn millions annually. The estate reportedly generates approximately $8.1 million from music licensing rights alone. This ongoing revenue stream makes control over merchandise sales a critical concern for the Bennington family.
Legal documents show that Chester Bennington left his entire estate to his wife, Talinda, and his six children, as Blabbermouth confirmed. This would include rights to his name and likeness for merchandise purposes. The current website redirect raises questions about whether these estate rights are being properly respected.
Jaime’s accusations bring renewed attention to how the estate’s merchandise revenues are managed amid the band’s continued commercial success.
During a recent interview, Jaime revealed how Chester faced significant monetary challenges throughout his life, despite Linkin Park’s massive success with ‘Hybrid Theory’ and subsequent albums.
