Prominent American music executive and producer Jermaine Dupri has filed an 18-million-dollar lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment, accusing the company of underpaying and concealing royalties.
The lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan federal court, claims that Sony Music systematically underreported earnings and intentionally concealed royalty payments owed for his work with major global artists, including Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, and Bow Wow. Dupri and his legal team allege that an accounting audit conducted last year uncovered millions of dollars in unpaid revenue owed to him and his label, So So Def.
According to the 13-page court complaint, the entertainment firm used separate, undisclosed accounting systems to keep funds away from the producer. In one specific instance, the suit alleges that Sony Music concealed royalties from the catalogue of the 1990s hip-hop duo Kris Kross for over two decades.
Dupri, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018 and co-wrote the Grammy-winning hit “We Belong Together,” is seeking at least $18 million in damages. His legal team noted that the final amount could rise as they continue to audit other production services rendered under his long-term contracts with the music company.
Sony Music Entertainment has not yet released an official statement regarding the legal claims.
