Sony Music responds to Kesha battle with Dr Luke

Label says it is legally unable to terminate contract

Kesha leaves the Supreme Court in New York on Friday. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)

Sony Music has finally addressed Kesha’s battle with her record contract and producer Dr Luke, who she claims abused her, as it faces calls to free the singer from her contract.

Kesha was met by an outpouring of support after a judge ruled she could not record music outside of her contract terms with Dr Luke, real name Lukas Gottwald, and his Sony label. She claims he psychologically tormented her and raped her a decade ago after allegedly drugging her with a pill which knocked her out.

Dr Luke has denied the allegations since they were first made, which he says are “outright lies that have been advanced to extort a contract renegotiation and money”. He is countersuing Kesha for defamation and claims he has been subject to a “vicious smear campaign to ruin his reputation for financial gain”.

Kesha’s fans and high-profile figures have led “free Kesha” calls urging Sony to grant her request to be released from the contract she has with Dr Luke’s Kemosabe Sony label since the ruling a week ago. On Thursday, Sony Music released a statement via their lawyer to The New York Times claiming it cannot legally terminate her contract because it is with Dr Luke.

“Sony has made it possible for Kesha to record without any connection, involvement or interaction with Luke whatsoever, but Sony is not in a position to terminate the contractual relationship between Luke and Kesha,” it read.

“Sony is doing everything it can to support the artist in these circumstances, but is legally unable to terminate the contract to which it is not a party.”