UPDATE: Dr. Luke’s attorney has responded to these reports, saying “This is not true. Luke has an excellent relationship with Sony. His representatives are in regular contact with executives at the highest levels at Sony and this has never come up.”
Sony is expected to cut ties with producer Dr. Luke before the end of the year, according to a report by The Wrap. Dr. Luke, of course, is the man accused by Ke$ha of subjecting her to years of emotional and sexual abuse, a case that spiked in public awareness last month when the singer was denied an injunction bid that would have freed her from her contract.
The report stems from sources familiar with the situation inside Sony, with no official comment from the company itself. ”“The fact that this hasn’t already been taken care of is confusing, especially for people in the building,” says one unnamed insider.
If Sony is indeed planning to end its contract with Dr. Luke, it will be another marker of the power of social media. Though Ke$ha found no legal recourse to be released from her recording contract, the results of her civil suit against Dr. Luke are pending, and there have been no criminal charges filed, public opinion was quick to stand with Ke$ha against her alleged abuser. With stars such as Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, and Taylor Swift standing with their embattled colleague in a stunning display of female artist empowerment, Sony appears to have been backed into a corner. “There is no contest. Kesha has no case in regards to her contract but they can’t afford the Adeles of the world out in the streets calling the label unsupportive,” according to a source.