Swizz Beatz Sues North Carolina Nightclub Over Unpaid Royalties

Hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz and several music publishers have initiated legal action against a North Carolina entertainment venue in federal court. The lawsuit alleges that the establishment publicly performed copyrighted songs, including the late DMX’s iconic hit “Party Up (Up in Here),” without securing the necessary licenses required under federal copyright law.

The complaint, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, specifically names BoatYard Lake Norman and its owner, Chris Boukedes. The plaintiffs contend that the venue has repeatedly played protected musical works despite years of outreach and formal licensing offers from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

At the heart of the dispute is the chart-topping DMX single co-written by Swizz Beatz. The legal filing asserts that the venue’s unauthorized public performances have deprived songwriters, composers, and music publishers of essential performance royalties. According to the complaint, ASCAP representatives made numerous attempts to secure compliance through telephone calls, emails, and mailed correspondence, all of which were reportedly ignored or rejected by the defendants.

The lawsuit also encompasses claims involving other tracks, such as “Jump Around,” “Party All the Time,” and “Shut Up and Dance.” Several publishing companies, including Universal Music Corp., have joined the action as plaintiffs to assert their rights regarding the compositions.

The plaintiffs are seeking up to $30,000 in statutory damages, alongside injunctive relief and other remedies provided under the Copyright Act. This case is part of a broader wave of copyright enforcement actions filed nationwide this week by ASCAP-affiliated creators.

ASCAP Executive Vice President of Licensing, Stephanie Ruyle, addressed the broader issue in a statement: “Each of the establishments sued today has chosen to infringe upon the hard work of songwriters instead of licensing the music they play, despite repeated notifications and opportunities to do so.”