Daryl Hall Suing Former Bandmate John Oates Over Plan To Sell Share In Joint Venture

Topline

Daryl Hall is suing his former Hall & Oates bandmate John Oates, saying Oates’ plan to sell his share of a joint venture violates a business agreement between the two, the Associated Press reported—providing new details on Hall’s lawsuit which was under seal, and his restraining order against Oates.

Key Facts

Hall was granted a temporary restraining order on November 16 against Oates by Nashville Chancery court judge Russell Perkins who wrote that Oates, his wife Aimee, and his business manager, Richard Flynn, who are co-trustees of Oates’ trust, can’t close the sale of their share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP until an arbitrator from a separate case looks over the deal or if the judge’s order expires, the Associated Press reported.

A judge temporarily blocked Oates’ sale after Hall’s suit was filed, according to the Associated Press.

Oates was reportedly trying to sell his stake in the duo’s joint business to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC, which has already owned “significant interest” in their song catalog for over 15 years, the Associated Press reported, adding that the public version of Hall’s lawsuit doesn’t specify what the sale involves.

The lawsuit reportedly says Hall opened an arbitration process against Oates, his wife, and Flynn on October 9, and was seeking an order to stop them from selling their share of Whole Oats Enterprises after Oates’ team made it known the sale could close in days without an arbitrator.

Oates, his wife, and Flynn entered into a letter of intent with Primary Wave Music, according to the lawsuit which argues that the letter shows Hall and Oates’ business agreement was disclosed to Primary Wave Music which violates a confidentiality provision in their contract, the Associated Press reported.

Neither an attorney for Hall nor an attorney for Oates and his co-trustees immediately replied to a request for comment.

Key Background

Hall and Oates met as students at Temple University in 1967, and eventually released 18 studio albums together as Hall & Oates from 1972 to 2006. They are known for hits such as “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” and “Rich Girl.” In a Sky News interview in 2021, Hall said he didn’t have an option when it came to selling his back catalog, and that he wouldn’t if he could decide. “Never sell your publishing — maybe if you’re, you know, 80 years old and you decided to retire, then you can sell your publishing, but I wouldn’t even suggest it then, I don’t believe in that concept, it’s all you have is that,” Hall said at the time.

Further Reading

Hall & Oates Lawsuit: Daryl Hall Granted Restraining Order Against Ex-Bandmate John Oates (Forbes)

‘It’s all you have’: Daryl Hall on why music artists should think twice about selling back catalogues (Sky News)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/11/24/daryl-hall-suing-former-bandmate-john-oates-over-plan-to-sell-share-in-joint-venture/