Olivia Newton-John is suing Universal Music for unpaid royalties from the 1978 smash hit soundtrack to 'Grease'.
Australia's sweetheart claims that Universal Music Group Inc have failed to pay her over $1 million in royalties for her efforts on the album, which had five hit singles in the US and knocking the Rolling Stones' 'Some Girls' off the top of the charts in 1978.It has been suggested that the soundtrack has sold over 27 million copies worldwide and often appears in lists of the best-selling albums of all time. Newton-John only appears on five songs out of the 24 on the original double album.
According to Associated Press, Newton-John filed the breach of contract suit on Friday December 1 in the Los Angeles County Superior court. Her attorney, John Mason, said that while Universal has paid some royalties on the album, a recent audit has shown that they have failed to
honour a range of contractual payments.
On Tuesday December 5 Universal released a statement responding to the suit, which said in part, "The lawsuit is without merit and, at the appropriate time, we expect that the court will dismiss it."
