In a landmark legal move, Brooklyn federal prosecutors have been ordered to receive more than $500,000 in music royalties from R. Kelly and Universal Music Group (UMG).
The money will be used to pay back his victims’ reparations as well as any unpaid fines from the law. U.S. On August 23, District Judge Ann Donnelly issued an order directing UMG, the longtime music publisher of the imprisoned multi-platinum artist, to make the payment.
R. Kelly was previously required to pay close to $28,000 from his prison prisoner account to settle unpaid fines, according to Judge Donnelly. The troubled R&B artist is presently incarcerated for 30 years after being found guilty in New York in 2021 of racketeering and sex trafficking. R. Kelly, UMG, and Sony Music Entertainment were all jointly given a $50,000 bill to be paid to the victims of sexual abuse as part of his punishment in 2022.
The court found that R. Kelly still owed $504,289 in restitution costs and criminal fines, and that both music moguls were “in possession of property” that belonged to him. The most recent decision, however, makes it clear that Sony Music will no longer be obligated to pay this particular bill. Instead, these monetary responsibilities will be covered by R. Kelly’s income from Universal.
The news follows a nearly three-decade-long trail of claims against R. Kelly, which resulted in his convictions in 2021. His alleged employment of middlemen and workers to seduce fans and aspiring artists into controlling and sexually abusive situations was made public during the high-profile trial.
There were allegations that the victims had spent days imprisoned in rooms without food or access to a lavatory.
R. Kelly was also found guilty of making sex videos with a kid and pressuring minors into sexual activities.
When the 2019 Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” premiered, featuring in-depth stories from his claimed victims, his legal issues intensified even further. Despite the fact that much of the evidence had been available for years, the series was crucial in shifting public opinion against him.
R. Kelly’s huge revenue from music recordings and tours, which had previously supported his legal defense efforts, had considerably decreased by the time he was imprisoned.
This most recent event highlights the persistent financial and legal ramifications that the once-famous artist has to deal with.
It also serves as a reminder of the #MeToo movement’s ongoing influence and the legal system’s will to make offenders responsible for their deeds.
