LVRN Countersues Summer Walker Over Unpaid Commissions and Royalties

Management company LVRN has filed a countersuit against the singer Summer Walker, accusing her of failing to pay commissions and royalties under their 2017 contract. The filing was made on Monday, Nov. 9, and was reported by Billboard on Nov. 11.

The countersuit answers a case Walker brought in August. In that earlier lawsuit she accused LVRN of skimming money from her music, touring and merchandise. LVRN now alleges that Walker breached the 2017 agreement by refusing to share cuts of her earnings.

The company puts numbers on those cuts. LVRN alleges Walker did not pay a 7% commission on her Still Finally Over It arena tour. A commission is the percentage a manager keeps from income they helped bring in. LVRN also says Walker did not pay a 20% share of her public performance royalties, the fees collected when songs are played in venues, on broadcast and online. Finally, it alleges she did not pay a 15% management commission on gross ancillary income, meaning money from sources beyond records and tickets, such as brand partnerships and merchandise.

LVRN's filing also lists more than two dozen opportunities it says it negotiated for Walker. Among them are a partnership with Savage x Fenty, the fashion and beauty brand founded by Rihanna, an opening slot on Chris Brown's Breezy Bowl stadium tour, and a performance at the FIFA World Cup. The company is seeking unspecified financial damages for breach of contract.

Walker's attorney, Keith Moten, told Billboard on Nov. 11 that LVRN's counterclaim does not change the issues in Walker's lawsuit. Those issues remain the ones she raised in August.

The contract also involves a third party. Walker signed jointly with LVRN and Interscope Records in 2017. Interscope has filed its own lawsuit against Walker, seeking $50 million. It alleges she delivered only three of five committed projects: Over It, Still Over It and Finally Over It.

Each percentage in these filings maps onto real money. A commission on an arena tour can cover a share of ticket income, production costs and crew payments, while royalties flow to songwriters and performers from every public play. For now, all of these claims are allegations from both sides, and none has been decided by a court.