Entertainment
Jermaine Dupri drops $18 million royalty lawsuit against Sony Music
The producer and So-So Def Recordings voluntarily dismissed their breach-of-contract suit without prejudice after informing the court the matter was resolved.
The short version
- Producer Jermaine Dupri and So-So Def Recordings voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment.
- The suit, filed in July, claimed $18 million in unpaid royalties covering a 32-year business relationship that included music by Mariah Carey and Usher.
- Attorneys notified the court that the dispute was resolved, though the case was dropped without prejudice, allowing it to be refiled later.
Key facts
- Jermaine Dupri and So-So Def Recordings voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against Sony Music in federal court on August 28, 2026.[Billboard]
- The original complaint, filed in July 2026, alleged $18 million in unpaid royalties due to accounting practices spanning a 32-year relationship.[Billboard]
- Attorneys for Dupri stated in court filings that the parties had resolved the matter, though no written explanation of a settlement was provided.[Billboard]
- The dismissal was submitted without prejudice, leaving open the legal option to refile the lawsuit in the future.[Billboard]
What remains uncertain
- The specific financial terms or details of the resolution between Dupri and Sony Music remain undisclosed as both parties declined to comment publicly.[Billboard]