In a shocking turn of events, Chlöe Bailey finds herself embroiled in a lawsuit that accuses her and her labels, Columbia Records and Parkwood Entertainment, of exploiting the contributions of songwriter-producer Melvin Moore, known professionally as “OneInThe4Rest.” The legal action, filed on February 20, claims that Bailey failed to properly compensate Moore for his significant input on three tracks from her “Trouble In Paradise” album: “Favorite,” “Same Lingerie,” and “Might as Well.”
Moore’s lawsuit outlines a troubling narrative, alleging that his deeply personal lyrics and themes, which reflect his own relationships and struggles, were used without his consent. The complaint highlights that Bailey and her team did not seek permission to commercially exploit his work and neglected to engage in good-faith negotiations before releasing the songs to the public.
The allegations suggest that Moore was not only denied proper credit but also left uncompensated for his creative contributions. The lawsuit specifically mentions how Bailey and Columbia Records promoted the music while omitting Moore from the credits, an act that raises serious ethical concerns in the industry.
Moore, a Grammy-nominated figure with an impressive track record—including collaborations with major artists like Usher, Drake, and Kanye West—has taken a firm stand. In a separate cease-and-desist letter, he demands $10,000 in payment and insists that his rights to the songs remain intact. He is also seeking a 2% royalty allocation per master, along with an additional publishing share, alongside the removal of the songs from all digital platforms until an agreement is reached.
The civil lawsuit is no small matter, as it requests substantial damages, including up to $150,000 per instance of willful infringement and punitive damages amounting to $5 million per song.
As the music industry grapples with issues of fairness and recognition, this lawsuit shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked contributions of songwriters and producers. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for artists and their collaborators moving forward.
