Sony Music has reached a settlement with USC regarding the lawsuit it filed last year, the company revealed in a March 25 filing. The lawsuit claimed that the University, without permission, used over 170 songs from musicians represented by Sony, such as Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé on social media to promote USC Athletics programs. 

Sony Music asked for up to $150,000 per unlicensed piece of music in over 250 videos on multiple social media platforms, totaling up to $42 million. 

In a filing to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the parties requested an adjournment, or postponing, of court deadlines for 60 days in order to finalize and execute a settlement agreement, after which they will file to dismiss the case. In the event where Sony and USC are unable to finalize a resolution, they will notify the Court, according to the filing sent by Sony.

The court ordered the conditional discontinuation of the case, provided that the parties finalize their agreement in the 60-day period.

In a response to a request for a statement by the Daily Trojan, the University wrote that it “had nothing further to provide” other than the order from the court conditionally discontinuing the case. 

The terms of the proposed settlement were not immediately available.

The lawsuit claimed that Sony had sent notices to the University to obtain licenses for the music used in its social media several times since 2021, with the first being issued in June of 2021, but USC failed to comply and continued to use copyrighted materials. Sony Music allegedly notified USC in January 2023 and July 2024 that the University was continuing to use its sound recordings without authorization. 

In the lawsuit, Sony alleged that USC leveraged its social media engagement, bolstered by the unauthorized use of Sony’s music, to support its positions as a powerhouse in college sports and drive increased revenues from advertising and sponsorship partnerships. 

Sony Music claimed that USC recognized the importance of music in its marketing strategy and chose to “flaunt copyright law” in order to promote its brands and increase its “auxiliary enterprise revenues” with Sony’s music, causing “substantial harm” to Sony Music. 

In the lawsuit, Sony Music said it derives substantial revenue from licensing its music, which is shared with artists. It alleged that USC’s unauthorized use of music “deprives artists of compensation” and their ability to choose how or where their music is used.