Royalties over the hit Justin Bieber song “One Less Lonely Girl” are the subject of a new lawsuit filed by a pair of artist managers who claim they were stiffed by EMI Music Publishing, LA Reid Music Publishing Company, and their clients, Sean Hamilton and Hyuk Shin.
Vance Tate and Thomas Oliveria claim in a lawsuit filed last week that they represent songwriters Hamilton and Shin, who collectively go under the moniker, A-Rex.
In 2008, A-Rex created a song, “One Less Lonely Girl,” meant for a project by R&B singer Noel Gourdin, and then shopped around. The song eventually found its way onto Justin Bieber’s first album the following year and is credited as a collaboration between R&B superstar Usher, Hamilton, Shin, and two other individuals.
Tate and Oliveria claim they are entitled to 10% of publishing royalties associated with A-Rex’s share of the song. The plaintiffs estimate that’s worth at least $200,000 and are seeking damages for breach of contract, fraud, conversion, and copyright infringement.
Since the song was first introduced by Bieber, with an accompanying music video, the song title has become a slogan of sorts for his adoring teenage girl fan base. The singer has sold scarfs and red roses branded with “One Less Lonely Girl.”
Explaining the song’s concept, Bieber told MTV News, “I think it’s really important these girls have something so they can be one less lonely girl.”
