Summer Walker has a lot to think about right now, and none of it is small… The R&B songstress reportedly sent Interscope a notice of termination in August, and the label answered on Friday, October 9, with a lawsuit claiming she’d owe $50 million for albums she hasn’t delivered. Whew!
According Rolling Stone, Walker signed a joint deal with Inter-scope and LVRN back in 2017, and she’s now leaning on California’s seven-year statute to argue the contract can’t be enforced anymore. That rule goes back to 1944 and lets a person exit a personal services contract after seven years. But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one… A 1987 amendment lets record labels sue artists for damages when they leave after seven years without fulfilling every album commitment. So the law that opens the door for Summer also lets the label stand in the doorway with a big ol’ invoice.
The label says the math isn’t on her side. Interscope claims the deal required five studio albums and that Walker has delivered only three, while her earlier EPs, Last Day of Summer and CLEAR, don’t count toward the total. That would put the three albums at Over It, Still Over It and Finally Over It. According to the music outlets’ read of the seven-page complaint, UMG says it’s owed damages “in excess of $50,000,000 for the undelivered recordings.” Per the filing, that covers two more albums and an EP, with the final figure to be settled at trial.
Labels only get 45 days to file suit after a termination notice. Interscope’s spokesperson framed the lawsuit as a procedural move rather than a declaration of war, saying the statutory deadline makes filing necessary to preserve the contract’s terms. The label also says it hopes ongoing talks lead to an amicable resolution and that it would welcome continuing the partnership. Translation: we’ll sue you and still want you to stay. Only the music business could make that sound normal.
Meanwhile, Summer’s representative Moten said they were disappointed Interscope chose litigation but confident in her legal position. Moten also said Walker plans to countersue the label.