R. Kelly and Universal Music Group Have Ten Days to Pay More Than $500K in Royalties to Singer’s Abuse Victims
R. Kelly’s record label, Universal Music Group, has been ordered to pay over $500,000 in music royalties to the star’s victims.
On Wednesday (Aug 23), a New York federal judge mandated both Kelly and UMG to pay $507,000 in royalties to settle the remaining balance of restitution owed to his abuse victims, giving the label ten days to make the payment.
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly had previously demanded that the “Ignition” singer pay $28,000 from his personal prison account.
The 56-year-old is serving a 31-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted on several charges, including child pornography, s€x trafficking, and racketeering, in two separate federal trials in Chicago and New York.
Two months ago, Prosecutors in Brooklyn demanded that R. Kelly’s record labels shell out big bucks in order to fulfill the settlements owed to the singer’s victims.
According to court documents obtained by HipHopDX, a writ of continuing garnishment was filed on Thursday (June 1), which is usually filed by creditors, but in this case the government is acting on behalf of Kelly’s victims. They’re seeking to collect money owed from debtors, which in this case are the record labels.
“The outstanding balance on the aforesaid judgment is $504,289.73, including interest, as of June 1, 2023. Interest is continuing to accrue,” the documents filed against Sony Music Entertainment read.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in March that Heather Williams was entitled to access R. Kelly’s label fund, which was reportedly valued at $1.5 million in 2020 before property manager Midwest Commercial Funding won its own separate $3.5 million ruling against the disgraced singer over unpaid rent on a Chicago studio.
