# Jermaine Dupri sues Sony Music seeking $18m in unpaid album royalties

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/jermaine-dupri-sues-sony-music-for-18m-in-unpaid-royalties-on-mariah-carey-usher-albums/
- Published: 2026-07-10T14:39:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-11T11:15:39+00:00
- Original publisher: Billboard
- Original article: https://www.billboard.com/pro/jermaine-dupri-sues-sony-music-for-18m-in-unpaid-royalties/
- Topics: Americas, Entertainment, Music, World

## Summary

Producer and So-So Def Recordings founder Jermaine Dupri has filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment, alleging the company owes him and his label more than $18 million in unpaid royalties linked to albums by Mariah Carey, Usher and other artists. Filed on Tuesday 7 July and obtained by Billboard, the suit accuses Sony of a "systemic pattern" of "contemptuous accounting practices" used to underpay royalties over many years, throughout what Dupri's lawyers describe as a 32-year relationship between So-So Def and the label.

The claim covers music by acts including Kris Kross, Xscape, Bow Wow, Da Brat, J-Kwon and Bone Crusher, as well as Dupri's own recordings. Among specific allegations, Dupri says Sony never reported producer royalties from Kris Kross's first two albums — leaving him owed over $2 million — and continues to insist the platinum-selling group Xscape carry more than $1.5 million in unrecouped advances 25 to 30 years on. He also accuses Sony of improper cross-collateralisation, hiding Kris Kross royalties in a separate accounting system, and amending Jagged Edge statements to cover past underpayments, with the lawsuit claiming more than $10 million in interest is owed.

## Coverage

- [Billboard: Jermaine Dupri sues Sony Music seeking $18m in unpaid album royalties](https://www.billboard.com/pro/jermaine-dupri-sues-sony-music-for-18m-in-unpaid-royalties/)
- [Variety: Jermaine Dupri Sues Sony Music for $18 Million Over Unpaid Mariah Carey, Usher Royalties](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/jermaine-dupri-sues-sony-music-mariah-carey-usher-royalties-1236803800/)
- [Rolling Stone: Jermaine Dupri Sues Sony for $18 Million in Royalties Tied to Mariah Carey, Usher, and More](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jermaine-dupri-sony-mariah-carey-usher-royalties-lawsuit-1235590624/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.