Los Lobos has settled its lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment over unpaid royalties for "Canción del Mariachi," the band's contribution to the 1995 film Desperado, alongside Antonio Banderas. A court filing on Friday confirmed both sides had agreed to jointly dismiss the breach of contract claim, though the band's attorney declined to disclose the settlement's terms. The dispute mattered because the track's popularity had surged after mixed martial artist Ilia "El Matador" Topuria adopted it as his walkout anthem, yet the band alleged it received no streaming royalties despite this renewed attention.

Los Lobos originally filed suit in December 2025, accusing Sony's Milan Records imprint of failing to pay any digital royalties even as streams climbed. Sony had denied wrongdoing when it responded in February, and Banderas was not party to the case. The settlement does not end the band's legal battles with the wider Sony corporation, however, as a separate case against Sony Pictures over royalties from the 1987 film La Bamba remains ongoing, with Sony Pictures having already repaid $22,000 in underpaid foreign royalties plus interest, though Los Lobos maintains further money is owed.