Dionne Warwick sues firm for allegedly stealing millions in royalties

Dionne Warwick has filed a countersuit against Artists Rights Enforcement Corp., accusing the company of “pilfering millions of dollars” in royalties from some of her most enduring recordings, Billboard reported.

She says the firm relied on a one‑page agreement she signed in 2001 without legal representation.

Dionne Warwick Royalties Dispute Rooted in a 2001 Agreement

Warwick believed the document applied only to a narrow dispute with Warner Bros. Records.

But Billboard reported that the firm used the agreement to claim half of the revenue tied to her creative output from 1962 to 2001.

Warwick, an 85‑year‑old East Orange, N.J., native, began her career in 1961 and became known for classics such as “Walk On By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”

A Sharp Rebuke From Warwick’s Attorney

Her attorney, Robert S. Meloni, described the company as a “proverbial wolf” that hid “self‑interest” behind a veneer of professional credibility, WBLS reported.

He said the firm collected Warwick’s royalty income and deposited it into its own accounts without providing proper accounting.

Dionne Warwick Royalties: A Legal Fight That Escalated in 2025

The conflict intensified when the firm sued Warwick in December 2025.

AREC claimed she owed “hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars” for royalty recovery work, Pitchfork reported.

The company also pointed to its role in clearing the “Walk On By” sample used in Doja Cat’s No. 1 hit “Paint the Town Red,” Billboard reported.

Claims of Interference With a Primary Wave Deal

Warwick’s countersuit further alleges that the firm interfered with a potential agreement with Primary Wave.

AREC reportedly contacted the company and said Warwick lacked the rights to sell revenue streams from her recordings, according to Billboard.

Her team argues the move derailed a legitimate negotiation and caused financial harm.

Broader Allegations and Financial Demands

According to Music Business Worldwide, Warwick is seeking punitive damages of at least $1 million and a full accounting of all funds collected on her behalf over 23 years.

Her lawyers say the company “cloaked itself in professional credibility while concealing its own self‑interest.”

A Final Album Amid the Legal Battle

Even as the case moves forward, Warwick is preparing what she calls her final album, DWuets.

The project features collaborations with Cynthia Erivo and Kehlani, and its first single, “Ocean in the Desert,” is set for release on March 20.