Sony Sues Dixie Chicks

Sony Music Entertainment filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Dixie Chicks yesterday in New York City, requesting the court force the band members to honor a contract they signed in 1997.

According to the suit, the trio -- Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Seidel -- wanted to renegotiate a more lucrative contract with Sony, after the success of their first two albums. The group's debut, 1998's Wide Open Spaces, reached Diamond status with sales of more than 10 million, and the follow-up, 1999's Fly has been certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Sony claims that the group's contract includes as many as four additional albums to be delivered.

"We filed this complaint to confirm that the Dixie Chicks remain signed to an exclusive recording contract with Sony Music," reads a statement issued by Sony Music. "We take great pride in the work we've done in establishing the Dixie Chicks as the most popular and biggest selling female country group of all time. We have tremendous respect for all of the Dixie Chicks, as well as for their extraordinary music."

The Dixie Chicks had no comment on the dispute at press time.

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

More Song Stories entries »

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