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Need advice: music producer claiming all royalties

Started by legal_eagle_wannabe_35 · Jul 26, 2025 · 1,926 views · 9 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
LE
legal_eagle_wannabe_35 OP

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

music producer claiming all royalties. I've been dealing with this for about 14 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

The contract was signed 19 months ago. I have a copy of the original agreement. The total amount in dispute is approximately $17,000.

Do I have a strong case? What should my next steps be?

FT
frank_the_tank_24

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

SR
samantha_r_10

This comes up a lot.

In my case, it took about 1-3 months to resolve. The key was escalating to a supervisor/manager.

DA
daveP_22

Ok so been there. Here's what I learned.

The magic words were "let me speak to your supervisor"/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

CP
CPATaxHelp_34

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

AJ
average_joe_8

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

RL
rebecca_l_2 Attorney

Idk but attorney here. Here's my take on the legal issues....

The legal framework here involves both federal and state law. At the federal level, the implied covenant of good faith. Your state may provide additional protections.

I'd recommend documenting everything in writing from this point forward. Keep copies of all communications.

PB
plea_bargain_bob_2

Tbh every time I see a post like this...

The trap most people fall into is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

ST
startuplife_13

Been there. Here's what I learned.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

LP
laura.p_3

Been there. Here's what I learned.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.