Interscope Sues Summer Walker for $50M Over Undelivered Recordings

Interscope Records is suing R&B singer Summer Walker for more than US$50 million over recordings it alleges she has yet to deliver under her contract. The lawsuit follows Walker’s move to leave her record deal under California’s seven-year rule, which limits how long individuals can be held to contracts for personal services.

Backstory:

• As per Music Business Worldwide, Walker signed a joint deal with Interscope and Atlanta-based label and management company LVRN in 2017.

• In August, her attorneys notified Interscope she would stop working under the agreement as of August 27, invoking the seven-year rule.

• Record labels can claim damages when an artist invokes the rule before delivering all the albums required under their contract.

• To do so they must bring the claim within 45 days of the termination date specified in the artist’s notice.

Undelivered recordings:

• According to the complaint, filed on October 9 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Walker has delivered three of the five albums required under her contract: Over It (2019), Still Over It (2021), and Finally Over It (2025).

• Her 2018 mixtape Last Day of Summer and 2019 EP CLEAR do not count toward that total.

Damages:

• Interscope is seeking more than $50 million in damages for the two albums and an EP it alleges remain outstanding.

• The final figure will be set at trial.

Amicable resolution:

• In a statement to Billboard, Interscope said it remained “hopeful” of an amicable resolution, but that the statutory deadline made filing the lawsuit necessary.

• Walker’s attorney Keith Moten said his client intends to vigorously defend against Interscope’s claims and pursue appropriate legal relief. He also said Walker plans to countersue, while remaining open to a “constructive resolution.”