NEW YORK: Cher is embroiled in a legal battle against Mary, the widow of her late ex-husband Sonny Bono, over royalties. The iconic singer has urged a federal judge to dismiss all claims filed against her, according to reports from Radar Online.
In 2021, Cher filed a lawsuit against Mary, alleging that she had been withholding royalties owed from Sonny & Cher’s timeless joint hits, including songs like “The Beat Goes On” and “I Got You Babe.” Cher cited their 1975 divorce agreement, in which they agreed to split their royalties equally.
Cher claimed that Mary had been collecting royalties that were not rightfully hers, and she demanded $1 million in damages while asking the court to affirm the validity of the divorce agreement. Cher also asserted that federal law granted her the authority to terminate the agreement.
Cher’s Breach of Contract Claim
However, Mary argued that the 50% royalty deal had expired and that the royalties were now being paid to Sonny’s heirs. She contended that Sonny could not have signed away his heirs’ future rights of termination, asserting that the heirs’ right to terminate under the Copyright Act preempted Cher’s breach of contract claim.
In response, Cher has requested the court to reject Mary’s counterclaim in its entirety and proceed with her lawsuit. The musician alleges that Mary has wrongfully induced a third party to pay her the royalties. Additionally, Cher has demanded that Mary cover her legal fees associated with fighting the counterclaim.
The legal dispute between Cher and Mary highlights the complexities surrounding royalty rights and agreements in the music industry.
