Trouble In Paradise? Chlöe Bailey and Her Labels Sued for Allegedly Failing to Pay Songwriter for Work on Her Album

Weeks after being called out by writer and activist Tiffany Red, Chloe Bailey is being sued for failing to pay a songwriter and producer for their work on her album.

Grammy-nominated songwriter-producer Melvin Moore, known as OneInThe4Rest (“4Rest”), has filed a lawsuit against Bailey and her labels, Columbia Records and Parkwood Entertainment, alleging deceptive business practices. Moore claims he was not compensated for his work on three songs: “Favorite,” “Same Lingerie,” and “Might as Well” from Bailey’s 2024 album “Trouble in Paradise.”

“In particular, the lyrics and narratives were derived from intimate and real-life situations, reflecting [Moore’s] relationships, emotions, and personal struggles,” states the complaint.

He accuses Bailey and her label of failing to seek permission before commercially exploiting his work or engaging in good-faith negotiations before release. The lawsuit alleges Moore did not receive proper writing credit and details how Bailey and the label promoted the songs without acknowledging his contributions. In a cease and desist letter, Moore’s team demands $10,000 and an immediate halt to unauthorized use until an agreement is reached. They also request a 2% royalty per master, additional publishing allocation, and the removal of the songs from all digital platforms. Moore, who has worked with other major artists like Usher, Drake, and BTS, is seeking actual and statutory damages, including up to $150,000 per willful infringement and $5 million per song in punitive damages.

Red, who is the founder of The 100 Percenters, a music creative advocacy group, originally brought the matter to the public eye in January when her group began representing Moore. She blasted Bailey in several videos, accusing her of being aware of what had taken place and making no effort to correct the matter.

Bailey and her team have not publicly responded.