Daryl Hall and John Oates have quietly settled their legal dispute over Oates’ plans for a sale of his stake in their joint venture, Whole Oats Enterprises, to Primary Wave Music.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday (August 13) that the pair resolved their dispute via private arbitration. Citing a status report, the AP reported that Hall’s attorneys secured a final judgment in arbitration and lodged an order for Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins to dismiss the case. Perkins ordered Hall’s attorneys to provide a status update in July.
Neither party disclosed the details of the settlement, according to the AP. The news agency said it remains unclear when the arbitration process was completed.
Robb Harvey, Hall’s attorney, declined to comment, said the AP, while representatives for Oates did not respond to requests for comment.
The resolution brings an end to litigation that began in November 2023 when Hall sued to block Oates from selling his stake in their joint venture to Primary Wave Music. The legal battle escalated quickly, prompting Judge Perkins to temporarily pause the sale “while legal proceedings and a previously initiated arbitration continue,” according to the AP.
The dispute centered on Whole Oats Enterprises LLP, which controls valuable intellectual property including trademarks, name and likeness rights, record royalties, and digital assets tied to the Hall & Oates brand, the AP said.
Hall reportedly described the sale attempt as a betrayal, alleging in court filings that Oates had misled him about his intentions while secretly negotiating with potential buyers. Hall called Oates’ actions the “ultimate partnership betrayal.”
The AP reports that Oates pushed back against those accusations, saying he was “deeply hurt” by what he described as Hall’s “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements”.
Hall and Oates formed their partnership in the early 1970s, recording 21 albums and selling over 80 million copies, according to their website. They produced hits like Rich Girl, Maneater, Kiss on My List, and Private Eyes, among many others.
In 2007 it was reported that Primary Wave acquired an interest in Hall & Oates’ song catalog, estimated to be worth between USD $25 million and $50 million, according to an article from The New York Post at the time.
That same year, Primary Wave acquired “the copyright and music publishing interests” for around 70 songs written by sisters Sara and Janna Allen, including their share of Hall & Oates hits like Maneater, You Make My Dreams, and I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).
Music Business Worldwide
