Jermaine Dupri Files Lawsuit Against Sony for Unpaid Royalties: So So Def Recordings Seeks $18 Million in Damages

Jermaine Dupri Files Lawsuit Against Sony for Unpaid Royalties: So So Def Recordings Seeks $18 Million in Damages

Jermaine Dupri has taken legal action against Sony, filing a lawsuit alleging that the record label underpaid and withheld royalties from his record label, So So Def Recordings. The lawsuit claims that Sony failed to pay royalties on hit albums involving artists like Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, Jagged Edge, and Bow Wow.

The issues reportedly came to light in 2023 when Sony began issuing new royalty statements. An audit in 2025 revealed alleged accounting errors, missing royalties, and unreported earnings, leading So So Def to demand approximately $18 million in unpaid royalties.

Jermaine alleges that Sony did not pay all the royalties owed on releases by Kris Kross, Xscape, Da Brat, and Jagged Edge, resulting in a significant financial loss for So So Def. Additionally, he claims that Sony underpaid royalties on projects he produced for Mariah Carey and Usher, with the full amount still being calculated.

Seeking at least $18 million in damages, Jermaine and his companies accuse Sony of underreporting and withholding royalties for decades. The lawsuit aims to hold Sony accountable for the alleged financial discrepancies and ensure that So So Def receives the royalties it is owed.

With this legal action, Jermaine Dupri is looking to resolve the royalty disputes in court and secure the compensation he believes is rightfully due to his record label. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing legal battle.