Chris Brown producer sues Sony Music for $1.25M, claiming it stalled the sale of his ‘Party’ royalties and paid him half the agreed rate
Ishmael Sadiq Montague, a co-producer of Chris Brown’s 2016 single “Party”, is suing Sony Music Entertainment for at least $1,247,500. He alleges Sony delayed redirecting his royalties to a company that had agreed to buy them and paid him only half the producer royalty rate he was owed; the claims are set out in a complaint filed in New York federal court.
The complaint says Montague was entitled to 1.5% of the track’s 3% producer royalty after splitting it with co-producer A1. It alleges Sony delayed the change of payee for six weeks while requiring a letter that waived audit rights, despite already having paid Montague’s company directly for years. Sony later sent an alternative assignment form, which Montague signed on 29 August; these allegations have not been established in court.
In short
- Producer Ishmael Montague is seeking at least $1,247,500 from Sony.
- He alleges Sony delayed the sale of his “Party” royalties.
- The complaint also claims he was paid half his agreed royalty rate.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Montague’s strongest case is that Sony should have honoured the agreed 1.5% producer royalty and processed the sale of his royalty interest promptly, particularly if it had already paid his company directly for years. He may argue that conditioning the change of payee on waiving audit rights was unreasonable and that the delay and alleged underpayment caused financial loss.
The case against
Sony could argue that it was entitled to verify the assignment and use its required paperwork before redirecting payments, since it must ensure royalties go to the rightful recipient and comply with its contractual and accounting obligations. The complaint itself says Sony later supplied an alternative assignment form that Montague signed, and both the alleged delay and underpayment remain unproven; Sony may dispute the facts or the amount claimed.
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