Cher Seeks $1 Million in Disputed Royalties in Ongoing Sonny and Cher Catalog Battle

A long-running dispute over royalties from the Sonny and Cher music catalog has taken a new turn, with Cher now seeking more than $1 million in unpaid royalties following a court ruling in her favor.

The legal battle began in 2021, when Mary Bono argued that Cher was no longer entitled to royalties from the catalog after her 1978 divorce from Sonny Bono. Mary Bono claimed Cher had relinquished her rights decades earlier and should no longer receive payments tied to the former duo’s work.

A California judge rejected that argument in 2024, ruling that Cher retains her rights under federal copyright termination laws. In a decision issued last November, the court found that those laws allow songwriters and their heirs to reclaim or retain control over intellectual property years after original agreements were signed.

In a new court filing this week, Cher is now asking for more than $1 million in royalties she says were improperly withheld while the dispute was ongoing. Her legal team argues that Mary Bono’s position was based on what they describe as an untenable interpretation of copyright law, resulting in lost income during the years-long conflict.

Mary Bono’s legal team did not respond to requests for comment on the latest filing but has appealed the judge’s ruling, signaling the case is far from over.

Sonny Bono, beyond his music career, also served as mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992, making him a prominent figure in the Coachella Valley before his death in 1998.

As the appeal moves forward, the royalties dispute continues to draw national attention, highlighting the lasting impact of copyright law on legacy music catalogs.

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