Sony Music Entertainment
One of the three majors, and the company (as Sony BMG) that paid $10 million to settle New York's payola investigation in 2005. Its imprints have also been at the center of high-profile contract fights.
Sony Music Entertainment is one of the three major record companies, with labels including Columbia, RCA, Epic, and a network of imprints. From 2004 to 2008 it operated as Sony BMG, a joint venture with Bertelsmann.
It was Sony BMG that, in 2005, became the first major to settle New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's payola investigation — agreeing to pay $10 million and to stop secretly paying for radio airplay. Sony imprints have also figured in some of the most contested artist-contract disputes of the modern era.
Primary sources
- [1]Sony Music Entertainment — Sony Music Entertainment
Cases on file
Kesha couldn't leave her recording contract while she sued (2014–2023)
Whatever one concludes about the underlying allegations, Kesha's case exposed a structural trap: courts declined to release her from her recording contract while her dispute with the producer who controlled it played out, leaving her professionally bound to her opponent for years. The suits settled in 2023.
Sony BMG paid $10M to settle New York's payola investigation (2005)
In July 2005, Sony BMG agreed to pay $10 million and stop secretly bribing radio stations for airplay, settling New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's year-long payola investigation.
George Michael called his Sony contract 'professional slavery' — and lost in court (1994)
George Michael sued to escape his long Sony contract, calling it 'professional slavery.' In June 1994 a UK court ruled the deal reasonable and enforceable. He couldn't break it in court — but a year later Sony simply sold his contract to other labels.