Los Lobos has filed two lawsuits accusing Sony entities of failing to properly account for and pay royalties related to the band’s recordings for the films La Bamba and Desperado. The actions, quietly filed late last year, allege contract breaches and seek damages and a comprehensive global accounting that could total between $1.5 million and $2.75 million, or more.
The suits name Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment as defendants. One of the cases became public on Friday after being transferred to federal court. Los Lobos contends that despite the enduring success of the soundtracks, it has not received royalties commensurate with worldwide exploitation, particularly in the streaming era.
In the first lawsuit, the band focuses on the La Bamba soundtrack, released in 1987 alongside the Richie Valens biopic. The album achieved double-platinum status and featured Los Lobos’ rendition of “La Bamba,” which topped charts in at least 15 countries. According to the complaint, the soundtrack’s continued commercial performance has generated significant revenue over decades. However, Los Lobos alleges it has never been paid streaming royalties for uses of the recordings outside the United States and Canada.
The band says it identified what it calls a “massive deficiency” in royalty statements in March 2025. The filing estimates unpaid international royalties associated with the La Bamba soundtrack at between $1 million and $2 million, with Sony Pictures Entertainment alleged to be responsible for those payments under the relevant agreements.
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