Jive Records Faces Payment Dispute with Songwriter
NEW YORK – A songwriter is alleging Jive Records has failed to pay royalties owed for work on Jennifer Lopez‘s 2001 album, J-Lo. Songwriter Jonathan Rotem claims he is still awaiting compensation for his contributions to the track “I’m Real (Murder Remix),” featuring ja Rule.
The dispute resurfaced this week as industry observers noted the continued underperformance of J-Lo, wich, as of Tuesday, had sold 925,000 copies after seven weeks, falling short of the anticipated 1 million mark. The album’s high production costs and Lopez’s significant advance from Sony Music have placed added pressure on its commercial success. While the lead single, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” performed well, overall album sales have lagged.
Rotem’s claim highlights ongoing challenges within the music industry regarding royalty payments and artist compensation. The case underscores the complexities of navigating contracts and ensuring fair remuneration for creative work, especially in the context of major label releases.
Simultaneously occurring, Sony Music is experiencing a relative win with Aerosmith’s Just Push Play, debuting at No. 2 with approximately 225,000 copies sold. The band’s enduring appeal and accomplished Super Bowl performance are credited with boosting initial sales.
The entertainment industry is also focused on the approaching Academy Awards, with Oscar voting concluding Monday. Recent reports indicate Sean Connery dismissed his publicist following a lack of awards recognition for his role in Finding Forrester. Several performances from Thirteen Days, including those of Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp as the Kennedy brothers, were overlooked by voters. Predictions for awards include Javier Bardem for Best Actor (Before Night Falls), the Chocolat screenplay, and ennio Morricone for Best Score (Malena). One observer predicts a future Oscar nod for Christopher Nolan’s Memento, noting the Academy’s tendency to overlook films in their initial release year.
