Daryl Hall has taken legal action against his longtime musical partner, John Oates, opposing Oates’ plan to sell his share in their joint venture, Whole Oats Enterprises LLP. Hall claims that this move violates their established business agreement. In response, a judge has temporarily halted the sale while legal proceedings and ongoing arbitration unfold.
On November 16, a Nashville chancery court judge issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Oates and others involved in his trust from finalizing the sale to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC. This pause will be in effect until an arbitrator rules on the deal or until the judge’s order expires, typically within 15 days unless extended.
The lawsuit, initially filed under seal, revealed that Hall initiated an arbitration process on November 9 against Oates, Oates’ wife Aimee, and co-trustee Richard Flynn. The objective was to prevent them from selling their share in Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave Music. The lawsuit alleges that the sale’s authorization is a clear breach of contract, citing a confidentiality provision violation when disclosing the business agreement to Primary Wave Music.
Despite the lawsuit not specifying the exact stakes involved in the sale, it is known that Primary Wave has held a “significant interest” in Hall and Oates’ song catalog for over 15 years. In a 2021 interview, Hall expressed disappointment with the sale of his back catalog and advised artists to retain their publishing rights.
The legal dispute centers on whether the sale involves the music catalog of Hall & Oates, the renowned soft-rock-and-pop duo known for hits like “Private Eyes,” “Rich Girl,” and “Maneater.” The case is scheduled for a court hearing on November 30.
Hall and Oates, who began their musical journey as Temple University students in 1972, have achieved six platinum albums and numerous Top 10 singles. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the duo continues to perform, with their latest album, “Home for Christmas,” released in 2006.
