After Court Win, Cher Secures $418K in Sonny & Cher Royalties Battle
Cher has emerged victorious in a landmark copyright dispute against Mary Bono, widow of Sonny Bono, regarding royalties from the Sonny & Cher catalog.
Cher in black performing onstage
Photo Credit: Raph PH / CC by 2.0
US District Judge John Kronstadt ruled that Cher maintains her right to receive royalties, despite Mary Bono's attempt to terminate payments through Copyright Act provisions. The ruling confirms approximately $418,000 in royalties owed to Cher as of June 2022.
The dispute stems from a 1978 divorce settlement between Cher and Sonny Bono, which granted Cher a 50% stake in their publishing catalog. Following Sonny's death in 1998, Cher established a new partnership with Bono's heirs. However, in 2016, Mary Bono attempted to exercise termination rights under the Copyright Act, which typically allows creators or their heirs to reclaim publishing rights after 35 years.
Judge Kronstadt's decision emphasizes that Cher's "contractual right to receive financial compensation" remains distinct from copyright control, effectively preserving the terms of the original divorce settlement.
Sonny & Cher, ranked #18 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Duos of All Time in 2015, created numerous hits during their partnership from the early 1960s until their 1974 divorce, including "I Got You Babe," "Baby Don't Go," and "The Beat Goes On."
Mary Bono smiling, headshot portrait
Cher performing on stage
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