Bad news for Kesha‘s ongoing legal battles. The pop star has been denied an injunction releasing her from her contract with her former producer, Top 40 hitmaker Dr. Luke and his Sony-affiliated label, Kemosabe Records.
Kesha (born Kesha Rose Sebert) sued Dr. Luke for sexual assault and emotional abuse last year, claiming that the producer and record executive had drugged and assaulted her among other offenses, and Dr. Luke later countersued for extortion.
According to tweets from Buzzfeed reporter Mary Georgantopoulos, a judge ruled today that Sony has provided Kesha with the opportunity to record without Dr. Luke. Kesha’s lawyer Mark Geragos described that gesture as an “elusive promise” and indicated that Sony has sided with Dr. Luke and would not promote new music she records without him: “They’re setting her up to fail.” The judge communicated that it seems unlikely that a competitive business like Sony would not try to recoup their investment in Kesha: “There has been no showing of irreparable harm. She’s being given opportunity to record.” Check out the live courtroom tweets from Georgantopoulos below.
Kesha’s “We R Who We R” peaked at No.1* on Billboard‘s Hot 100 Chart in 2010, she was featured on Pitbull’s No.1* single, “Timber“, in 2013.
#Kesha‘s lawyer says even w/ new Sony offer, “they’re setting her up to fail” bc they won’t promote her music. Says Sony sided w/ Dr Luke.
— Mary Georgantopoulos (@marygeorgant) February 19, 2016
Judge: You’re asking me to presume an entity like Sony, who is in competitive position … will not want to make money on their investment.
— Mary Georgantopoulos (@marygeorgant) February 19, 2016
Sony lawyer: “Our interest ins in her success. Our interest in in Dr. Luke’s success. They are not in the least bit mutually exclusive.”
— Mary Georgantopoulos (@marygeorgant) February 19, 2016
#Kesha‘s motion for preliminary injunction denied. “There has been no showing of irreparable harm. She’s being given opportunity to record.”
— Mary Georgantopoulos (@marygeorgant) February 19, 2016