Erica Campbell’s Label Quickly Settles Music Royalties Lawsuit Against Distributor
Billboard ·
SRG/ILS Group is still locked in a separate legal fight over money with R&B singer Kenny Lattimore.
Digital distributor SRG/ILS Group has swiftly settled a lawsuit over the royalty accounting for Erica Campbell ’s latest gospel album — though it’s still fighting a separate legal case from R&B veteran Kenny Lattimore .
Campbell’s label My Block Inc. sued SRG in mid-September, alleging it hadn’t received a single royalty statement for her 2023 album I Love You . Just two weeks later, the claims have been resolved, according to a Friday (Oct. 2) court filing ending the case.
“The Plaintiff voluntarily dismisses this action without prejudice as the parties reached a settlement,” writes My Block’s attorney, Christopher Brown, in the filing obtained and first reported by Billboard .
Terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed. SRG said in a statement to Billboard , “SRG is pleased to announce that it has resolved the matter with My Block Inc. With the matter now resolved, SRG wishes My Block Inc. continued success and the very best in all future endeavors.”
Brown declined to comment on the settlement.
SRG has been less quick to resolve a different lawsuit filed by Lattimore in February. In that case, Lattimore alleges the distributor only sent him a single royalty check of just $4,400 for his 2021 album Here to Stay , and that top brass tried to “intimidate and pressure” him when he began an audit. SRG has denied Lattimore’s allegations and is fighting back in court.
As that case continued, My Block entered the fray on Sept. 17 with its own lawsuit. The label, founded by Campbell’s producer husband Warryn Campbell , was under a distribution deal with SRG from 2021 to 2024. During that time, I Love You sent the single “Feel Alright (Blessed)” to No. 1 on Billboard ’s Gospel Airplay chart . Two of the album’s tracks co-written by Erica and Warryn Campbell received Grammy nominations.
My Block’s partnership with SRG also included the distribution of Lena Byrd Miles’ 2022 album Brand New , which achieved the No. 1 Gospel Airplay single “WOW (Walk on Water)”, and The Walls Group’s 2023 album Four Walls .
According to My Block’s lawsuit, the distributor never provided a royalty statement for any of these releases. The label accused SRG of breaching their contract and sought at least $1 million in damages.
SRG, which operates in partnership with Universal Music Group’s Virgin Music, said in a statement to Billboard when the lawsuit was filed that it had “made repeated efforts to engage with My Block and its representatives regarding the orderly transition of masters, accounting, and payments.”
“We have maintained a comprehensive record of those communications and are confident that the facts and documentation will provide important context to the allegations now being made,” added SRG at the time. “SRG remains focused on what it has always been focused on: serving our artists and partners, honoring our commitments, and building long-term relationships rooted in trust.”