Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Artists Rights Enforcement Sues Dionne Warwick Over 'Paint the Town Red' Royalty Split

The firm says a 2002 contingency deal entitles it to half of recovered payments from royalties it secured.

Overview

  • A lawsuit filed in New York this week accuses Warwick of breaching a long-running agreement and unjust enrichment after an attempted termination in September 2025.
  • AREC says it negotiated and paid for clearance of Warwick’s 1964 'Walk on By' as sampled in Doja Cat’s 2023 No. 1 hit, entitling the firm to ongoing royalties.
  • The company claims it waived upfront fees in exchange for a perpetual 50% share and says its work produced over $2.5 million and an approximately sixtyfold increase in distributions.
  • Court filings allege Warwick or her counsel asked Sony, Rhino, and the UK rights collective PPL to redirect payments to her instead of AREC.
  • AREC seeks reinstatement of its contractual cut plus damages and interest, with Doja Cat and Atlantic not named as defendants and no public comment yet from Warwick.