Cher has won her copyright lawsuit against Sonny Bono’s widow, Mary, after a nearly three-year battle over music royalties.
California state Judge John Kronstadt ruled that Mary owes Cher more than $418,000 in unpaid royalties. On May 29, peopleThe iconic singer sued Mary in October 2021, alleging that she was not paid for songs she recorded while married to Sonny and performing as Sonny & Cher, and that the funds were improperly allocated by Wixen Music Publishing. “As to resulting damages, the parties agree that Wixen would have distributed at least $187,000 in songwriting royalties to Sonny’s heirs, if not for the invalid termination,” the suit states. [Cher]Of this amount, at least $93,500 [Mary]According to People magazine, the judge said:
LOS ANGELES – JULY 22: Singer and actress Cher poses with ex-husband Sonny Bono during a photo shoot in Los Angeles, California on July 22, 1977. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Court minutes state the judge said: “The parties agree that as of June 30, 2022, Wixen [Music Publishing] He holds $418,156.82 in composition royalties. [Cher]According to People magazine, the judge said:
The division of royalties became complicated after Sonny died in a skiing accident in 1998. When Sonny and Cher divorced in 1978, they agreed that Cher would receive a 50% stake in the Sonny & Cher publishing catalog. However, after Sonny died, Mary became the executor of his estate, and she and her four children began co-managing his music, according to People magazine.
American vocal duo Sonny & Cher, also known as husband and wife Sonny Bono and Cher, circa 1965. (Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Wixen Music Publishing became involved in 2011, and Cher said the company “collected and distributed” its share of her music royalties over several years.
According to People magazine, in 2016, Mary invoked a “termination right” provision in copyright law that allows a songwriter’s heirs to regain U.S. publishing rights after 35 years.
According to People magazine, Cher claimed that Mary, who is also a Sony heir, and her children terminated her contract without her “knowing about any involvement.” Mary said that by taking that action through those rights, she was able to stop royalty payments to Cher.
The legendary singer took the matter to court and won.
But in 2016, Mary, 62, invoked a “termination right” provision in copyright law that allows songwriters or their heirs to regain U.S. publishing rights after 35 years. Cher said her heirs exercised the termination right without her “knowledge or involvement.”
Mary said in 2021 that these rights allowed her to stop paying royalties to Cher, leading to Cher’s lawsuit.
A tentative ruling in February was in Scheer’s favor, and that ruling was upheld Wednesday. (Related article: “It really pisses me off”: Cher reveals the surprising reason she hates one of her hit songs)
Sonny and Cher married in 1974 and rose to fame with the hit song “I Got You Babe” and the show “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.”
