Sony Music sues Whitney Houston biopic producers over unpaid song licenses

Sony Music Entertainment sued the producers of the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody on Thursday after claiming that the producers have yet to pay for the use of the late singer’s music in the film.

According to the lawsuit filed in California, the film’s producers, Anthem Films, NYBO Productions and Black Label Media, signed a licensing agreement with SME in December 2022, with payments for the 20-song grant expected by July 2023.

“Unlike other types of films, musical biopics by their nature require use of the subject musician’s music, as it is nearly impossible to explain the importance of a musician’s creative genius or unique style and talent without the use of the musician’s music,” wrote the SME legal team. “To date, Anthem has not paid the fees, or any portion of the fees, due under the agreements.”

The lawsuit went on to accuse Anthem and NYBO of direct copyright infringement and Black Label Media of vicarious copyright infringement.

“As a result of Anthem’s failures, Defendants’ use of the SME Recordings in the Film has been unauthorised, and Defendants have had no legal right to use the SME Recordings,” the suit read. “Despite being given notice of their infringing conduct, Defendants have continued to distribute and otherwise exploit the SME Recordings in connection with the Film without authorization.”

Black Label Media later told US publication Billboard that the company was “one of many investors in this film, should not have been named in the lawsuit, and looks forward to being dismissed from it promptly.”