New details have emerged regarding the legal dispute between Daryl Hall and his longtime music partner, John Oates. The 77-year-old Hall filed a lawsuit against the 75-year-old Oates, alleging that Oates’ plan to sell his share of their joint business venture, Primary Wave Music, violated their undisclosed business contract.
A Nashville judge unsealed part of the lawsuit on November 22, granting Hall a restraining order to halt the sale temporarily while legal proceedings unfold. The judge ruled that Oates and those involved in his trust cannot finalize the sale of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to a private investment firm until either an arbitrator in a separate case responds or the restraining order expires.
Hall filed the lawsuit on the same day the judge issued the ruling. Us Weekly confirmed the filing, reporting that Hall submitted an undisclosed complaint along with a motion for a temporary restraining order. Subsequent orders from the judge revealed more details about the case.
Daryl Hall Files and John Oates (Credits: Variety)
As of now, neither Hall nor Oates has publicly commented on the legal situation. Us has sought comment from both parties.
The musical duo, who formed their band in 1970, has a longstanding history, releasing 18 studio albums together. Their final album, a holiday record, was released in 2006. Hall and Oates last toured together in October 2022, and in a September 2022 podcast appearance, Hall emphasized that while they are business partners, they are not creative partners.
Despite the legal drama, Hall & Oates’ music catalog, acquired by Primary Wave in 2007, remains at the center of the dispute. In 2021, Hall expressed regret over transferring the ownership of the tracks from BMC to Primary Wave, citing past financial issues. Oates, on the other hand, stated in a recent interview that he doubted the possibility of the band making another record together, indicating that the future of Hall & Oates lies in the past.
