Chaka Demus & Pliers Suing Universal Music Group For $10 Million In Unpaid Royalties

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Chaka Demus and Pliers, the reggae act best known for their 1993 party-starter “Murder She Wrote,” are suing the world’s largest record label for more than $10 million in unpaid royalties and trademark infringement.

Attorneys for Jamaican-born stars John Taylor (aka Chaka Demus) and Everton Bonner (aka Pliers) lodged the complaint against Universal Music Group in New York this week. Chaka Demus and Pliers accuse Universal of misappropriating royalties intended for the duo from the sale of their dancehall hits, including “Murder She Wrote,” “Tease Me,” and “Twist and Shout.”

The suit charges that Universal Music has “withheld the monies and royalties payments” from the inception of the reggae stars’ contract with the Universal-owned label Island Records in Oct. 1992

According to Reuters.com, the pair are also demanding an injunction ordering Universal Music to cease the sale, production, and performances of the their music.