In an escalating legal battle over music royalties, legendary singer Cher has accused Sonny Bono’s widow, Mary Bono, of conspiring to divert millions of dollars rightfully owed to her. This startling claim emerges from a two-page declaration filed by Cher in a California federal court, as exclusively revealed by RadarOnline.com.
Cher, renowned as the “Goddess of Pop,” has taken legal action against Mary Bono, asserting that the latter has unjustly claimed a substantial portion of the royalties from the duo’s music collection, including hits like "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On." According to Cher, the 1978 Marriage Settlement Agreement (MSA) she signed with Sonny Bono clearly entitles her to a 50-percent share of the compositions and record sales accrued following their separation and eventual divorce.
The situation came to a head in September 2021 when Cher discovered Mary Bono’s alleged attempts to terminate her rights to the Composition Royalties under the MSA. “She never told me that, and prior to September 2021, I had no knowledge of her plan to divert my Composition Royalties,” Cher stated in her declaration.
Adding to the complexity, the 77-year-old Grammy and Oscar-winning star revealed that she had entered into an agreement in December 2022 to sell an interest in her music catalog. This ongoing dispute with Mary Bono, Cher argues, is adversely affecting the value of her lifetime’s work and the financial returns she is due to receive from the sale.
Cher and Mary Bono initially had a cooperation agreement to evenly split the royalties, but the dynamic changed in 2011 when Mary Bono claimed that the 50/50 deal had expired. In her legal filing seeking a summary judgment, Cher contends that Mary Bono and Wixen Music Publishing, the agency responsible for collecting and disbursing the royalties, colluded to seize her share of the royalties at a time when she was planning to sell her music catalog.
“Wixen conspired with Ms. Bono to secretly divert Cher’s royalties,” Cher’s legal brief alleges. The brief further states that Mary Bono’s actions not only breach the terms of the MSA but also violate a 1999 agreement between Cher and Mary Bono, acting as the administrator of Sonny’s estate.
The court's upcoming decision on this matter is poised to have significant implications for the valuation of Cher’s musical assets and her rightful earnings from a prolific career in the music industry.