Grammy-winning East Los Angeles band Los Lobos Friday sued Sony Music, alleging in federal court that the company underpaid streaming royalties on a song the group recorded for the 1995 Antonio Banderas western “Desperado.”
The band contends digital sales of the track, “Canción del Mariachi,” featuring Banderas on vocals, skyrocketed after mixed martial artist Ilia “El Matador” Topuria began using it as his walkout anthem.
Los Lobos is claiming breach of contract stemming from Sony’s alleged failure to pay $500,000 to $750,000 in royalties, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles federal court.
“Despite the specific knowledge that the popularity of the recording was spiking and reaching new audiences, Sony and (affiliate imprint) Milan still paid nothing to Los Lobos for streaming, and continues to pay nothing for streaming anywhere in the world or for any time period,” the lawsuit contends.
A Sony Music representative could not immediately be reached for comment.
Los Lobos previously sued Sony Pictures and subsidiary Columbia Pictures alleging a deficiency in royalties paid from the “La Bamba” soundtrack. The 1987 film featured several Los Lobos covers, including a cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba,” which spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The “Canción del Mariachi” lawsuit was originally lodged in Superior Court last month but transferred to federal court Friday.