Jamie Nelson
Earlier this year Megan Thee Stallion took legal action against her label 1501 Certified Entertainment, LLC over the legal definition of an album as she seeks to exit their deal. As Rolling Stone reports, she has now amended the complaint and is seeking $1million in damages.
As per the original complaint, Megan is looking to be released from the 2018 deal she signed with the Houston-based label and move forward independent from a company she has a long and complicated relationship with. In the amended complaint, filed in a Harris County, Texas court last week, Megan asked that new album Traumazine and last year’s Something For Thee Hotties be legally recognized as albums and that 1501 acknowledge this as having "satisfied all option periods" as laid out in her contract with the label.
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The initial complaint was filed on February 18 in Harris County District Court and named 1501 Certified Entertainment, LLC as the sole defendant. The petition outlined that Megan, whose real name is Megan Pete, was "seeking a declaration that her album, Something for Thee Hotties constituted an 'Album' as defined in the parties' recording agreement." A month later the label countersued, stating they viewed Something For Thee Hotties as a compilation of previously released material.
Megan was not initially seeking any financial compensation but has now stated that, if successful, she will demand $1million in damages in unpaid royalties. She also states that she believes 1501 leaked Traumazine early, a claim the label denies. 1501, in return, claim Megan owes them "many millions" from revenue streams including live shows and merchandise.
An in-person deposition is scheduled for mid-October, with the case expected to run until 2023. The FADER has reached out to representatives for 1501 Entertainment and Megan Thee Stallion for more information.
