Summer Walker’s attorney plans to “vigorously defend” against Interscope’s lawsuit over her record deal — but says they are still willing to meet the label at the negotiating table.
Walker is in a dispute with the Universal Music Group (UMG) subsidiary over the status of the contract she signed back in 2017. The R&B singer sent a legal notice in August terminating the record deal under California’s seven-year statute, which limits the length of personal services contracts in the state. Interscope then responded on Friday (Oct. 9) by suing Walker, claiming she’ll owe $50 million if she walks away before fulfilling her album commitments.
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After that lawsuit was filed, Walker’s attorney Keith Moten released a statement saying, “While we are disappointed that Interscope has chosen to pursue litigation, we are confident in Summer’s legal position and her right to challenge the continued enforceability of her recording contract with Interscope.”
“Summer has made extraordinary contributions to Interscope’s success, and we believe she deserves the opportunity to move forward under terms that fairly recognize her value as an artist,” added Moten. “We intend to vigorously defend against Interscope’s claims and pursue appropriate legal relief.”
Moten said they plan to countersue Interscope. At the same time, however, he emphasized that an amicable settlement with Interscope would be a welcome outcome: “The parties’ discussions have remained professional, and Summer remains open to a constructive resolution. She hopes that the matter can be resolved in a manner that respects the interests of all involved and avoids unnecessary or prolonged litigation. In the meantime, Summer remains focused on her music, her artistry, her children and her fans.”
The latter part of Moten’s statement echoes the tone set by Interscope in its own statement when the lawsuit was filed Friday. An Interscope rep told Billboard that litigation was necessary to preserve its contractual rights under the parameters of the seven-year statute, which provides a 45-day window for labels to sue for damages after receiving a termination notice. The label said it remains “hopeful that our ongoing discussions will lead to an amicable resolution,” adding, “We have great respect for Summer and her music and would welcome the opportunity to continue our successful partnership.”
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California’s seven-year statute, also known as Section 2855, is a nearly century-old state law that allows individuals to cut off any personal contract that runs past that amount of time. But the statute has a carveout specific to the music industry: Under a 1987 amendment, labels can sue for damages if an artist chooses to exit a record deal after seven years but before all their album commitments have been fulfilled.
This is exactly what Interscope alleges in Friday’s lawsuit, which sets the damages figure at $50 million. The label says Walker has only delivered three projects from her contract’s five-album commitment: her 2019 debut Over It, which hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the 2021 chart-topper Still Over It and another No. 2 set, Finally Over It, in 2025.
Labels have in the past used these types of damages lawsuits to respond when artists invoke the seven-year statute to exit their record deals. Warner Bros. Records did so amid a dispute with heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold in 2016, as did MCA with R&B groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe back in the 1990s.
Artist advocates have lobbied unsuccessfully for years to repeal the amendment that allows labels to bring such lawsuits, arguing that the possibility of hefty damages unfairly deters musicians from exercising their rights. The record industry maintains that this provision protects labels’ contractual rights and stabilizes dealmaking.