Chance the Rapper wins second trial against ex-manager Pat Corcoran, who must hand over merch vendor payments – and up to $1.5M in fees, according to Chance’s team
A Chicago judge has ruled for Chance the Rapper on the final claim in his legal dispute with former manager Pat Corcoran, finding that Corcoran breached his duty of loyalty over the artist’s merchandise business. Corcoran must hand over payments he received from merchandise vendors and the 15% management fee he earned from that business, though the ruling does not set the amount owed.
Chance’s team estimates the fees could reach US$1.5 million, in addition to the vendor payments. The judge also ordered Corcoran to transfer the ChanceRaps.com domain within 14 days and found breaches related to a UnitedMasters equity request and disclosures about two ventures. However, the judge rejected punitive damages and declined to strip Corcoran of all his management pay, which exceeded US$10 million across Chance’s music, touring and merchandise businesses.
- Chance won the final claim in his dispute with his former manager.
- Corcoran must surrender merch vendor payments and fees estimated at up to US$1.5 million.
- The judge rejected punitive damages and ordered the ChanceRaps.com domain transferred.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Chance’s strongest case is that a manager owes loyalty and transparency to the artist whose business they handle. If Corcoran received vendor payments or fees tied to merchandise without properly disclosing them, requiring repayment would enforce that duty and restore money that should have gone to Chance’s business.
The case against
Corcoran’s strongest case is that repayment should be confined to sums the court found were improperly received, rather than treated as grounds to forfeit all compensation earned across a much broader management relationship. The judge’s refusal to award punitive damages or strip him of all his management pay reflects the importance of distinguishing proven breaches from otherwise earned fees.