business
Jermaine Dupri and So So Def Recordings sue Sony for $18 million in royalties
The producer and his label filed a breach-of-contract suit in New York federal court on July 6, alleging Sony Music Entertainment underpaid royalties tied to multiple artists. The complaint seeks at least $18 million plus interest and fees.
Jul 7, 4:55 PM·1m read4 sources
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Jermaine Dupri and So So Def Recordings filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment in New York federal court on July 6, seeking at least $18 million in alleged unpaid royalties. The suit claims the companies entered a 1992 contract and that a 2025 audit uncovered a pattern of underreporting and altered royalty statements for releases involving Bow Wow, Xscape, Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross and others.
Alleged underpayments The complaint lists specific shortfalls, including $960,000 tied to Xscape's 1993 album "Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha" and $2.2 million linked to two Kris Kross albums, plus amounts for Dupri's solo work. It states the pair generated more than $200 million in revenue for Sony over three decades and accuses the company of intentional withholding that began to surface in 2023.
Def Recordings ask the court for the $18 million, interest, attorneys' fees and any other relief it deems appropriate. USA TODAY reached out to a representative for Sony for comment.
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