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Los Lobos Files Suit Against Sony Over Alleged $2.75 Million in Unpaid Royalties
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Los Lobos, the acclaimed Chicano rock band, is pursuing legal action against Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment, alleging breach of contract and failure to properly account for royalties earned from their work on the soundtracks for the 1987 film la Bamba and the 1995 action movie desperado.
The lawsuits, quietly filed late last year and recently moved to federal court, claim the band is owed at least $1.5 million,with potential damages reaching as high as $2.75 million or more. The Grammy-winning group is seeking a full accounting of worldwide royalties and damages to compensate for the alleged financial shortfall.
“La Bamba” Royalties Remain Unpaid Outside North America
According to the filings, Los Lobos’ rendition of “La Bamba” achieved double platinum status and topped music charts in over 15 countries following the release of the La Bamba biopic. Despite this widespread commercial success, the band asserts it has not received any streaming royalties for the song outside of the United States and Canada.
The band discovered this “massive deficiency” in royalty statements last March, with the alleged unpaid royalties for the La Bamba soundtrack ranging from $1 million to $2 million. Sony Pictures Entertainment is identified as being responsible for these payments.
“Canción del Mariachi” Gains Popularity, But royalties Remain Elusive
A second lawsuit centers on the song “Canción del Mariachi,” recorded by Los Lobos in 1993 for the Desperado soundtrack, featuring a collaboration with actor Antonio Banderas. Cesar Rosas, a member of Los Lobos, is credited with writing the song’s composition in it’s entirety.
The song experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years after being adopted as the “walkout” song and “anthem” by Ilia “El Matador” Topuria, a prominent UFC fighter. This increased visibility led to its use in television programming across numerous countries.
in 2018,Milan Entertainment released the song on Spotify and YouTube under the shortened title “Mexico and Mariachis,” reportedly garnering 150 million streams on each platform. Despite these millions of streams and Topuria’s endorsement, Los Lobos alleges they have not received a single royalty statement from Sony detailing any streaming or licensing activity related to the song. The band describes this lack of accounting as “egregious.”
Sony Music Masterworks acquired Milan Entertainment in 2019. The lawsuit claims both companies were aware of Topuria’s impact, even altering the song’s title on Spotify to “Canción del Mariachi (Ilia Topuria ‘El Matador’ Anthem).”
Millions in Streams, Zero Reported Revenue
Los Lobos estimates worldwide streams of “Canción del Mariachi” have surpassed 600 million, translating to a potential revenue share of $500,000 to $750,000 based on their contractual agreement. The band is requesting the court allow for revelation and, if necessary, a trial to determine the precise amount owed. They are also seeking a 24 percent cut of net revenues from any future licensing deals related to the song.
As of today, lawyers representing both Los Lobos and Sony have not responded to
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