Jermaine Dupri Files $18M Lawsuit Against Sony Alleging Unpaid Royalties

Variety is reporting that Jermaine Dupri is suing Sony Music Entertainment for $18 million, alleging the company failed to accurately pay royalties for releases by Mariah Carey, Usher, Xscape, Kris Kross, and more.

Backstory:

• Dupri’s imprint, So-So Def Entertainment, partnered with Sony in 1992 to release projects from Da Brat, Xscape, Whodini and Neena.

• As per Variety, Dupri’s attorneys allege “a pattern of underreporting royalties and retroactively updating statements of previously earned royalties.”

• They claim there are multiple So-So Def production share and produce royalty accounts impacted by the misreporting, and highlight $960,000 in unpaid producer royalties for Xscape’s “Hummin’ Comin’ At ’Cha” and more than $1 million for Da Brat’s “Funkdafied.”

• They also allege there were understated royalties payable to So-So Def in relation to albums released by Carey, Bow Wow, Usher, J-Kwon, Dupri and Bone Crusher.

• The suit claims Dupri is owed more than $10 million in interest payments for unpaid royalties.

• When approached by Variety, SME declined to comment.

Damages:

• Dupri is seeking no less than $18 million, as well as interest and attorney costs, to be determined by a jury trial.