Up-and-coming country artist Shaboozey has one of the most popular songs of the year with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” However, it seems that it is hard for the genre-bending artist to celebrate his new-found fame as legal issues hang over his head. Recently, he filed a lawsuit against Warner Chappell Music. Days later, his former label filed a countersuit against him.
According to Billboard, the legal battle began last Wednesday (August 21). Shaboozey filed a lawsuit claiming that his publishing administration deal with Warner-Tamerlane, a subsection of Warner Chappell contains an acceleration clause. This clause would allow him to repay 110% of advances to expedite the termination of his deal with them. However, his lawyers claim that the publishing company refuses to tell the artist how much he owes.
[RELATED: Exclusive: Shaboozey Talks “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” Almost Not Making the Album, His “Rocky Career” and Becoming a “Pillar of Music”]
Todd Bonder, the artist’s attorney stated, “To date, Warner has refused to disclose to plaintiff the total amount of the unrecouped balance of prior advances it made.” He added, “Warner’s conduct violates the administration agreement signed between the parties.”
Shaboozey also named his former label, Kreshendo in the suit. He claims that the label is the reason Warner is refusing to tell him how much he owes. Additionally, he claims that the label released three of his songs in 2019 after he left the label.
The suit hinges on the argument that Shaboozey took on his former label’s role in the contract with Warner after he left the label in 2019. However, Warner has not agreed to his interpretation of events.
Kreshendo Sues Shaboozey
Kreshendo filed a lawsuit against Shaboozey on Friday (August 23). In the suit, the label acknowledges that they released the artist from his contract. However, leaving the label came with stipulations. The label states that their agreement with the artist gives them a 50% stake in all of his songs and the right to a percentage of profits from his masters.
Their suit states that the artist has repeatedly breached their agreement. Kreshendo claims that he has failed to pay the percentages of his profits to them and that he instructed Warner to stop paying the label.
“Before Shaboozey became the well-known artist he is today, he was an unknown artist that plaintiff believed in,” the lawsuit states. “They agreed to invest their time and money to help him develop and reach success in the music industry.”
Featured Image by Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
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