According to The Hollywood Reporter, a New York appellate court has decided an ongoing dispute over profits from Drake's albums. The appeal stems from a lower court decision which allowed Aspire Music Group which "first signed musical superstar Drake to pursue profits claims against Universal Music." Aspire was co-founded by Lil Wayne's former manager Cortez Bryant who was alleging that "Cash Money Records and UMG Recordings are cheating a deal that entitled Aspire to one-third of net profits from Drake's first six solo albums." Part of the allegations included claims that Universal was acting as an alter ego of Cash Money. The complaint essentially alleged that Universal took control of Cash Money when it was having financial problems and by taking control, Universal took larger distribution fees reducing the profits Aspire was entitled to under existing agreements. 

The appellate court reversed the trial court's decision to allow the claims against Universal to proceed. The court reasoned that the complaint does not allege that Universal used its control over Cash Money to commit a wrong against Aspire stating that the "allegations describe legitimate business conduct; there is no indication that Universal engaged in this conduct for the purpose of harming plaintiff."

Written by:   Alexandra Siskopoulos, Esq.

Telephone:   (646) 942-1798

Email:          [email protected]

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