Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment, accusing the company of underpaying and concealing royalties connected to some of his biggest musical projects.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, claims Sony failed to accurately report royalty earnings related to recordings released through Dupri’s So So Def label. The producer is seeking at least $18 million in damages.
According to court filings, Dupri alleges Sony knowingly violated its contractual obligations by using accounting practices that prevented him from receiving the full royalties he was owed. He claims the company repeatedly underreported payments and later adjusted royalty statements without properly disclosing previously earned income.
The legal complaint references several high-profile artists associated with Dupri’s career, including Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, Xscape, Bow Wow and Da Brat. The lawsuit argues that the alleged accounting issues affected multiple projects spanning decades.
One of the most significant claims involves Kris Kross. Dupri alleges Sony withheld royalties from the duo’s catalog for more than 20 years by maintaining a separate royalty accounting system that was allegedly unknown to him and his business.
The producer also highlights his contributions to the music industry, describing his role in shaping Southern hip-hop and R&B. The filing notes his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018 and his Grammy Award win for co-writing Mariah Carey’s hit We Belong Together.
Sony Music Entertainment has not publicly responded to the allegations detailed in the lawsuit.
The case could draw significant attention within the music industry as it raises broader questions about royalty transparency and accounting practices between record labels and artists. The outcome may have implications for how royalty disputes are handled in the future.