Daryl Hall has taken legal action against his long-time music partner John Oates, claiming that Oates’ plan to sell off his share of their joint venture would breach their business agreement. A judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block the sale while legal proceedings and an ongoing arbitration unfold.
The Nashville chancery court judge has prohibited Oates and others from finalizing the sale of their share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator addresses the deal, or until the judge’s order expires.
The lawsuit was initially filed under seal, with limited details available to the public. However, a subsequent court order allowed more filings to be made public. Hall’s attorneys argued that the dispute is private and subject to a confidential arbitration process.
While the lawsuit did not specify the specific details of the sale, Primary Wave has held a significant interest in Hall and Oates’ song catalog for over 15 years. In a 2021 interview, Hall expressed disappointment with the sale of his back catalog and advised artists to retain their publishing rights.
The legal action claims that Hall initiated an arbitration process against Oates and other defendants, seeking to prevent them from selling their part in Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave Music. The lawsuit alleges that Oates’ team intended to close the sale imminently, despite the absence of an appointed arbitrator to resolve the conflict.
Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that Oates’ team entered into a letter of intent with Primary Wave Music for the sale, which allegedly violated a confidentiality provision of the music duo’s business agreement. As a result, the entire transaction is depicted as a clear breach of contract.
The case will be discussed at a court hearing scheduled for November 30. Requests for comment from attorneys and representatives involved in the dispute remain unanswered.
The legal battle involves the music catalog of Hall & Oates, a renowned soft-rock-and-pop duo celebrated for hits such as “Private Eyes,” “Rich Girl,” and “Maneater.”
Daryl Hall and John Oates started their musical journey as Temple University students and went on to achieve six platinum albums and numerous Top 10 singles. The duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and released their latest album, “Home for Christmas,” in 2006.
“ We have this incredibly good problem of having so many hits. Believe me, it’s not a chore to play those songs because they are really great. ” – John Oates
