Who Keeps the Royalties?

This week’s update dives into two royalty disputes — one starring a music legend, the other a Hollywood icon. From canceled contracts to unpaid costume rentals, the battle over who gets paid continues behind the scenes.

ChaseLawyers Newsletter
December 23, 2025

Hi there,

Today we’re looking at two cases where contracts — and unpaid royalties — are at the center of growing legal fights.

Dionne Warwick is being sued by her longtime royalty management firm, which claims it helped recover millions in back payments before she suddenly ended the deal. And in Hollywood, Kevin Costner faces new legal trouble as his Horizon saga is hit with a fresh lawsuit over unpaid costume fees.

Dionne Warwick Sued Over Royalty Deal Termination

A royalty enforcement firm says it boosted Dionne Warwick’s income “sixtyfold” over two decades — but now the singer wants out. The company is suing to enforce past contracts that grant it up to 50% of her royalty income, alleging she wrongfully terminated the agreements in September.

The firm says it fronted costs and handled complex royalty disputes with Warner, Sony, and major collecting societies — and now wants the court to confirm it's still owed its contractual share.

Kevin Costner Hit With Lawsuit Over Horizon Costume Fees

As Horizon: Chapter 2 remains stalled without a release date, Kevin Costner faces a new $440,000 lawsuit for unpaid costume rentals and damages. Western Costume says the production failed to pay rental fees and returned items in poor condition.

The lawsuit adds to a growing stack of legal troubles surrounding the Horizon series — including an arbitration case with City National Bank and a lawsuit from a stunt performer over an unscripted and allegedly unsafe scene.

Stay in the Know

Don’t miss out on the full stories and insights shaping the future of entertainment. Tap into these trends now to stay ahead of the curve and navigate the industry's biggest transformations.

If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys use the button below or contact us by telephone in Miami at 305-373-7665.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Rights management company says it boosted Dionne Warwick’s royalties “sixtyfold”, then she unilaterally cancelled its contracts

After recovering millions in royalties for Warwick, the company says she’s trying to cut them out — and they want their share upheld.

Kevin Costner Sued Over Unpaid Costume Fees For ‘Horizon’ Amid Financing Troubles

Another unpaid bill — this time for $440K in costumes — adds to the growing legal drama around Costner’s self-financed Western.

“ChaseLawyers provided outstanding service and exceeded my expectations. They were incredibly helpful and got my matter sorted out quickly and efficiently. From the very beginning, their professionalism and dedication were evident. The team kept me informed at every step and made the entire process stress-free. I highly recommend ChaseLawyers to anyone in need of expert legal assistance. They truly go above and beyond for their clients.”

Diana B

Exceptional communication with this entire law firm from the very first call. Tomas Michelson was honest, straightforward, understanding and handled my small business needs like family. I continually felt like Tomas understood and never lost sight of my desired outcome. The entire firm cared about me and my complex legal needs.

George M

OUR BLOGS

Structuring a Production Agreement That Actually Protects Your Project

This guide explains why strong production agreements matter just as much as creative talent. It breaks down how to protect ownership, payments, credits, and decision-making.

What’s Really Going on With Music Royalties in 2025

Streaming changed the royalty game – and not always in artists’ favor. This guide breaks down how payouts actually work in 2025 and what new models mean for musicians.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RESOURCES

Musicians

Authors & Filmmakers

Business Owners

MEET OUR PARTNERS

We understand the unique challenges you face as a creative, and we’re prepared to protect your interests.

Barry Oliver Chase
Senior Partner

Barry Chase, Esq. is an honors graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, and the founding partner of ChaseLawyers®. In addition to his entertainment attorney legal practice, Mr. Chase lectures regularly on the representation of media personalities, the legal “do’s and don’ts” of music, television, and film production, and the intricacies of film rights option agreements.

Greg Bloom
Partner

Gregory Bloom, Esq., is a sports and entertainment attorney who concentrates his practice on the representation of athletes, entertainers, and corporate businesses in connection with transactional work and litigation issues ranging from the very simple to the extremely complex.

Alexander Loveyko
Partner

Alexander Loveyko, Esq. is a New York-licensed attorney and Partner at ChaseLawyers, focusing on intellectual property, entertainment, and Internet law. Based in Miami, he represents creators, Web3 startups, and international talent, advising on IP, licensing, music catalog deals, and immigration matters.