Funk Legend & “Atomic Dog” Artist George Clinton Sues Universal Music Group Over Alleged Royalty Freeze

George Clinton

Funk Legend & “Atomic Dog” Artist George Clinton Sues Universal Music Group Over Alleged Royalty Freeze

#GeorgeClinton has filed a lawsuit accusing UMG Recordings of withholding royalty payments he says he is owed, claiming the company has frozen more than $1.1 million tied to his music catalog. The case centers on earnings connected to his work with Parliament-Funkadelic and related recordings, which Clinton argues have not been properly paid out.

According to reports, the dispute is also linked to ongoing legal and financial issues involving the estate of late Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Clinton contends that royalties are being improperly held due to that separate conflict, resulting in a broader freeze on payments from his catalog.

The lawsuit seeks to recover the allegedly withheld funds and force a resolution over how royalties tied to the catalog are being handled. It adds another chapter to long-running legal battles surrounding ownership, compensation, and financial rights connected to the influential funk collective.