In August 2022, Megan asked for US$1 million in damages from the label due to their “underpayment of royalties” and for “wrongfully [allowing] for excessive marketing and promotion charges to be deducted from amounts owed to Pete under the recording agreement”—all of which is on top of her request to the Harris County district court to determine that her 2021 release 'Something for Thee Hotties' is an “album” as defined in her recording agreement.

1 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Both parties appeared to have different ideas about what is contractually an album, but if a judge decides 'Something for Thee Hotties' doesn't count, Megan would owe them two more albums.

Her attorney Brad Hancock previously told TMZ, "This is yet another absurd attempt by 1501 to disregard Megan's album and squeeze more money and more free work out of her for as long as possible. We will ask the court to protect Megan from this type of abuse."

2 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Megan tweeted about the countersuit soon after: "Greedy a— men. First the man over my label said I don’t make him any money … now he counter suing trying to keep me on his label because he wants to make more money lol if I ain’t making you no money why not just drop me?" She added, "My lawyers asked him for an expense report (money 1501 supposedly has spent on ME)… why this grown a— man put his jewelry and chains on there… lord free me from this joke a— label."

3 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

The rapper initially sued her record label alleging that the CEO, Carl Crawford, was withholding the release of a song. She filed the lawsuit in 2021. The legal case included a request by her team of lawyers to place a temporary restraining order to block the label from stopping the release of a song she worked on with BTS.

4 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

The rapper and her legal team claimed the record label’s actions have negatively impacted her career. She alleges the record label is not making decisions with her in mind and instead is only there to harm her career and use her as a means to increase their earnings.

5 / 33 Fotos

Kesha -

Singer Kesha sued Dr. Luke of Sony Imprint’s Kemosabe Records, and the charges included emotional, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. Dr. Luke was also Kesha’s producer before their professional relationship went sour. The legal battle between Kesha and Dr. Luke involved a countersuit against Kesha for breach of contract and defamation. Kesha alleges Dr. Luke raped artist Katy Perry, which Dr. Luke and Katy Perry denied.

6 / 33 Fotos

Joss Stone -

British songstress Joss Stone took her record label to court with the intent to exit her contract with EMI. It cost her millions to finally be free from her contract.

7 / 33 Fotos

Prince -

Prince sued his record label Warner Brothers in the '90s over a dispute regarding his albums and payment. He came to the conclusion that he would change his name to a symbol, which translates to "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince." He did this as a way to circumvent being countersued by Warner Brothers, as his title is owned by the record label.

8 / 33 Fotos

Prince -

Prince was dissatisfied with the contract he signed and aired his grievances about the lack of creative control he had while at Warner Brothers. He felt like he could not release new albums due to this contract deal.

9 / 33 Fotos

Taylor Swift -

Taylor Swift sued her record label Big Machine Records for the right to full ownership of her music catalog. She eventually won the case, but it cost her US$300 million.

10 / 33 Fotos

Dr. Dre -

Dr. Dre won his legal battle against record label Death Row Records in 2015. Death Row Records apparently sold Dr. Dre’s album ‘The Chronic’ digitally and failed to pay the musician.

11 / 33 Fotos

Dr. Dre -

The court ruled in favor of the California rapper. He was awarded full payment of all online sales made by the record label.

12 / 33 Fotos

Courtney Love -

The front woman of the band Hole sued Vivendi Universal in 2001. She claims that the record label stole millions from her and her band. She claims the band only received US$2 millions in royalties.

13 / 33 Fotos

Courtney Love -

Later, she reached a settlement that gave her full ownership of work unreleased by her band.

14 / 33 Fotos

Chuck D -

Rapper Chuck D, of Public Enemy fame, sued Reach Global Music and Terrordome Music Publishing in a case alleging the companies stole millions of dollars from him. He filed this claim in 2001.

15 / 33 Fotos

Chuck D -

The rapper later demanded the record companies return full ownership of his songs and catalog to him.

16 / 33 Fotos

Goo Goo Dolls -

The Goo Goo Dolls sued their record label, Metal Blade, over unpaid royalties. The band eventually settled the legal dispute by renegotiating their deal.

17 / 33 Fotos

Goo Goo Dolls -

The Grammy-nominated group later signed a deal with Warner Brothers.

18 / 33 Fotos

LL Cool J -

LL Cool J took legal action against his record label, Def Jam Records, in 2006. He claims the record label did not promote his album ‘Todd Smith,’ released in 2006. He also alleges that the record label withheld airplay of his music.

19 / 33 Fotos

LL Cool J -

LL Cool J would eventually parted ways with the label. But in 2008, he inked a new deal with Def Jam Records with the release of his 12th studio album.

20 / 33 Fotos

Linkin Park -

Linkin Park took their record label, Warner Brothers, to court over how the company handled their contract. The legal battle started in 2005, and Linkin Park refused to work on future albums.

21 / 33 Fotos

Linkin Park -

Later, the band was able to successfully renegotiate their contract, which guaranteed higher royalties worth millions.

22 / 33 Fotos

The Chicks -

In 2001, the then-Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) entered a legal battle with record label Sony. The band claimed the record label underpaid them by millions of dollars in royalties. The feud went on for over 10 months.

23 / 33 Fotos

Destiny's Child -

Destiny’s Child had two former members, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, sue Beyoncé Knowles, their manager Matthew Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and their label, Sony Music. They filed the lawsuit on the grounds of breach of contract, defamation, fraud, and libel.

24 / 33 Fotos

Amy Lee -

Amy Lee of rock band Evanescence sued her record label, Wind-up Records, in 2014. She claims the record label stiffed her and her band of US$1.5 million in unpaid royalties. She later revealed she was released from her contract and was now an independent artist.

25 / 33 Fotos

Amanda Palmer -

Artist Amanda Palmer sued her record label because they refused to release her music video citing her weight was an issue. She also claimed they did little to actively support her work. She alleges the record label ruined her career.

26 / 33 Fotos

Amanda Palmer -

She wanted creative freedom. Frustrated with the situation, Palmer thought of a new way to remain creative and produce the work that represented her. She took matters into her own hands by launching a crowdfunding campaign to finance her work independent of the record label.

27 / 33 Fotos

JoJo -

JoJo sued her record label, Blackground, in 2009 for preventing her from releasing new music. They battled in court for years.

28 / 33 Fotos

JoJo -

Eventually, JoJo was released from her contract and received full ownership of her masters.

29 / 33 Fotos

Michael Jackson -

Michael Jackson sued his record label Motown Records and parent company Universal Music Group with the intention of gaining rights to all his masters. Jackson alleged the record label released music without his permission.

30 / 33 Fotos

Michael Jackson -

Jackson’s legal battle dragged on for months. The late artists also claimed the label failed to pay him royalties.

31 / 33 Fotos

Trent Reznor -

Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor took record label Universal Music Group to court alleging they exploited customers. Reznor launched this legal battle in 2007, stating the label hiked the sale price of their album ‘Year Zero’ in Australia.

Sources: (CBS News)

32 / 33 Fotos

0 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

1 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Both parties appeared to have different ideas about what is contractually an album, but if a judge decides 'Something for Thee Hotties' doesn't count, Megan would owe them two more albums.

2 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Getty Images

3 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Getty Images

4 / 33 Fotos

Megan Thee Stallion -

Getty Images

5 / 33 Fotos

Kesha -

Getty Images

6 / 33 Fotos

Joss Stone -

British songstress Joss Stone took her record label to court with the intent to exit her contract with EMI. It cost her millions to finally be free from her contract.

Getty Images

7 / 33 Fotos

Prince -

Getty Images

8 / 33 Fotos

Prince -

Getty Images

9 / 33 Fotos

Taylor Swift -

Taylor Swift sued her record label Big Machine Records for the right to full ownership of her music catalog. She eventually won the case, but it cost her US$300 million.

Getty Images

10 / 33 Fotos

Dr. Dre -

Dr. Dre won his legal battle against record label Death Row Records in 2015. Death Row Records apparently sold Dr. Dre’s album ‘The Chronic’ digitally and failed to pay the musician.

Getty Images

11 / 33 Fotos

Dr. Dre -

The court ruled in favor of the California rapper. He was awarded full payment of all online sales made by the record label.

Getty Images

12 / 33 Fotos

Courtney Love -

The front woman of the band Hole sued Vivendi Universal in 2001. She claims that the record label stole millions from her and her band. She claims the band only received US$2 millions in royalties.

Getty Images

13 / 33 Fotos

Courtney Love -

Later, she reached a settlement that gave her full ownership of work unreleased by her band.

Getty Images

14 / 33 Fotos

Chuck D -

Rapper Chuck D, of Public Enemy fame, sued Reach Global Music and Terrordome Music Publishing in a case alleging the companies stole millions of dollars from him. He filed this claim in 2001.

Getty Images

15 / 33 Fotos

Chuck D -

The rapper later demanded the record companies return full ownership of his songs and catalog to him.

Getty Images

16 / 33 Fotos

Goo Goo Dolls -

The Goo Goo Dolls sued their record label, Metal Blade, over unpaid royalties. The band eventually settled the legal dispute by renegotiating their deal.

Getty Images

17 / 33 Fotos

Goo Goo Dolls -

The Grammy-nominated group later signed a deal with Warner Brothers.

Getty Images

18 / 33 Fotos

LL Cool J -

Getty Images

19 / 33 Fotos

LL Cool J -

LL Cool J would eventually parted ways with the label. But in 2008, he inked a new deal with Def Jam Records with the release of his 12th studio album.

Getty Images

20 / 33 Fotos

Linkin Park -

Linkin Park took their record label, Warner Brothers, to court over how the company handled their contract. The legal battle started in 2005, and Linkin Park refused to work on future albums.

Getty Images

21 / 33 Fotos

Linkin Park -

Later, the band was able to successfully renegotiate their contract, which guaranteed higher royalties worth millions.

Getty Images

22 / 33 Fotos

The Chicks -

Getty Images

23 / 33 Fotos

Destiny's Child -

Getty Images

24 / 33 Fotos

Amy Lee -

Getty Images

25 / 33 Fotos

Amanda Palmer -

Getty Images

26 / 33 Fotos

Amanda Palmer -

Getty Images

27 / 33 Fotos

JoJo -

JoJo sued her record label, Blackground, in 2009 for preventing her from releasing new music. They battled in court for years.

Getty Images

28 / 33 Fotos

JoJo -

Eventually, JoJo was released from her contract and received full ownership of her masters.

Getty Images

29 / 33 Fotos

Michael Jackson -

Getty Images

30 / 33 Fotos

Michael Jackson -

Jackson’s legal battle dragged on for months. The late artists also claimed the label failed to pay him royalties.

Getty Images

31 / 33 Fotos

Trent Reznor -

Sources: (CBS News)

Getty Images

32 / 33 Fotos

Musicians who sued their record label

1501 CEO Carl Crawford apologizes, admits mistakes in Megan Thee Stallion contract battle

05/04/24 | StarsInsider

MUSIC Artists

Contrary to popular belief, the rich and famous don't always get their way. Indeed, these artists battled their record labels in court over grievances related to money and ownership, among other things. Some cases took years to wrap up, while others were relatively quickly settled out of court. These legal feuds are just a snapshot of the ups and downs of being a celebrity.

Megan Thee Stallion's ongoing legal battle with Carl Crawford’s indie label 1501 Certified Entertainment heightened when she sued her label in February 2022 to declare that 'Something for Thee Hotties' fulfilled her contract so that she could entirely escape what she found to be CEO Carl Crawford's damaging management. The label then filed a countersuit claiming that the 2021 album was not an album and thus can't be counted toward their contractual agreement, meaning that she could not be free.

Crawford changed his tune, however, in a recent interview with TMZ. In addition to installed Kai “Verse” Tyler as the new president of 1501 Certified Entertainment, Crawford said he and Megan haven't spoken since 2019. “We’ve been going through, I guess, what you guys see online, and it’s unfortunate because I never wanted to have a situation where I was, you know, going back and forth with her on the internet," he said, blaming social media for the problem. He also walked back his past comments toward Jay-Z and Roc Nation, whom he'd previously blamed for planting evil seeds in Megan's head, and revealed that his photos at the club with Tory Lanez—who allegedly shot Megan in the foot—was a stunt to get back at Megan. Crawford expressed his regret for how he has handled the whole situation with the rapper, but only time will tell how this plays out in court.

Check out this gallery to see what Megan and her legal team have had to say, and see of some of the most high-profile legal feuds in the music business over the years.