SONY SUES DIXIE CHICKS

Sony Music has sued the Dixie Chicks for breach of contract, pushing a royalty dispute with the multi-Platinum country act to the next level.

A complaint filed today (7/17) in New York accuses the Dixie Chicks of trying to leave Sony on "sham" claims that they were being underpaid. Sony lawyers asked the court to enforce the current contract and stop the girls from signing with another label.

The move follows the Dixie Chicks’ decision last week to leave Sony. On Friday (7/13), the band’s attorney Don Engel informed Sony that the Dixie Chicks were terminating their contract. Sony, meanwhile, says the group’s contract calls for the delivery of up to four more albums.

"We filed this complaint to confirm that the Dixie Chicks remain signed to an exclusive recording contract with Sony Music," a statement from the label group read. "We take great pride in the work we've done in establishing the Dixie Chicks as the most popular and biggest-selling female country group of all time. We have tremendous respect for all of the Dixie Chicks, as well as for their extraordinary music."

The suit says that despite being paid millions of dollars, the Dixie Chicks demanded the company renegotiate their contract for millions more. Talks broke off last week when the group said it was leaving the label, based on claims that Sony was withholding royalties, the suit alleges.

"The purported termination is based upon entirely trumped-up and baseless claims," the suit said.

The Dixie Chicks signed with Sony in 1997, selling more than 15 million records worldwide.