George Gershwin’s heirs say they got plenty of nothing from Warner Bros.
A half-dozen descendants of the late great composer’s fortune filed suit yesterday in Manhattan Supreme Court, saying the media giant skimped on royalties to Gershwin’s estate — to the tune of $4.5 million.
The suit alleges that Warner Bros. diluted profits by giving exorbitant fees to third parties during licensing agreements abroad. The entire Gershwin catalog makes a reported $8 million a year in royalties.
An independent firm hired by the heirs audited Warner Bros.’ records and allegedly uncovered “numerous areas of underpayment, non-payment and non-compliance” going back to 2001, the suit states.
Gershwin’s heirs are seeking at least $5 million in damages.
A spokesman for Warner Bros. declined to comment.
At issue in the copyright suit are some of the iconic American composer’s most popular works, including the opera “Porgy and Bess” and the compositions “Concerto in F,” “An American in Paris,” “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Cuban Overture.”
Gershwin died from a brain tumor in 1937.