Yoko Ono accuses record labels of "deficient" accounting

News Article - 20 October 2006
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The widow of late Beatles star John Lennon is hoping to win £5.5 million from a lawsuit in which she alleged that two record labels "rendered dishonest and grossly deficient accounting statements".

Yoko Ono accused record labels EMI and Capitol Records of "wilfully and knowingly underreporting royalties" and concealing the "true use" of Lennons' recordings.

The band and their record company Apple are also suing the record labels for unpaid royalties to the tune of around £30 million.

A claims form states that the allegedly false statements were made so that the record labels could "pocket millions of dollars of plaintiffs' royalties".

EMI and its subsidiary Capitol said: "Artists from time to time request audits of their royalty accounts" and "sometimes there are differences of opinion, which is understandable given the complex nature of recording contracts".

Jeanne Meyer, a spokeswoman for EMI/Capitol, told the Metro: "There are some differences of opinion."

The company has said it will appeal against the ruling, which was filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court.

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