The producers of the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” are facing a lawsuit for not paying for the use of over 20 of Houston’s songs in the film.
The lawsuit was filed in a New York federal court against companies involved in the production, including Anthem Films and Black Label Media.
The lead actress in the film, Naomi Ackie, lip-synced to recordings of the late vocalist, and the production entities signed sync license deals for Houston’s hits. However, more than a year after the film’s release, Sony Music claims they have not received payment for the use of the songs.
Sony Music lawyer, Christine Lepera, wrote in the legal complaint that Anthem Films has not paid the fees due under the agreements. The lawsuit alleges that the companies signed a sync license deal less than two weeks before the film’s theatrical premiere on December 5, 2022.
The lawsuit claims that there was no license or authorization to use the SME recordings used in the film, yet the film was exhibited, distributed, and exploited. The lawsuit names Anthem Films, NYBO Productions LLC, Black Label Media, and its successor company, WH Movie LLC, as co-defendants.
In a statement to Billboard, Black Label Media stated that they were “one of many investors in this film” and should not have been named in the lawsuit. They are looking forward to being dismissed from it promptly. This lawsuit highlights the challenges and legal disputes that can arise in the process of creating a biopic that relies heavily on an artist’s music.
