The lawsuit comes as the singer is enjoying a major moment on his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”.
Rising Country Star Chapozi has filed a lawsuit against Warner Chappell, claiming the major music publisher is blocking his efforts to buy out his contract amid the success of his hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”.
In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Friday, which was obtained by Rolling StoneShapozi claims he tried to exercise a clause in his management deal that allowed him to pay 110% of his unredeemed balances so he could exit the deal early. Such a move would be particularly useful and profitable given Tipsy’s popularity.
The singer’s representatives sent a letter to Warner Tamerlane (a subsidiary of Warner Chappell) last month about the deal and asked for a balance of the outstanding amount, but the publisher has not cooperated, according to the lawsuit. “To date, Warner has refused to disclose to Plaintiff the total amount of the outstanding balance for prior advances in violation of the Management Agreement,” the lawsuit states.
A music company called Crescendo, Shbozi's original record label and publisher, has also been named as a defendant in the case. The singer alleged that Crescendo instructed Warner not to give him information about the unrecovered balance.
Shapozi sued Warner and Crescendo for breach of contract. Warner did not immediately respond. Rolling StoneRequest for comment. No contact found for Kreshendo.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is one of the biggest songs of the year, and a strong contender for song of the summer. With 643 million streams on Spotify so far, it’s been a huge hit on streaming and radio as well. It’s spent the past five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
“The feeling of truly making your ‘dreams’ come true is indescribable, and I hope everyone gets to experience that at some point in their life,” Shapozi wrote on X when the song first topped the chart.
