Sony is Reportedly Dropping Dr. Luke After #FreeKesha Outcry

UPDATE: A representative for Dr. Luke denied reports that he’s being dropped by Sony, saying: “This is not true. Luke has an excellent relationship with Sony. His representatives are in regular contact with executives at the highest levels at Sony and this has never come up.” So far, Sony has declined to comment.

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The #FreeKesha movement may have succeeded in getting Dr. Luke kicked out of Sony – but it’s too early to tell if Kesha will be back to making music any time soon.

The Wrap is reporting that “knowledgeable individuals” told them Sony Music is expected to end its working relationship with the controversial producer a year before his contract expires:

The output deal has become a public relations headache for the company since pop star Kesha’s sexual abuse allegations against Gottwald have resulted in a nasty court battle — and a groundswell of support for the singer from influential fellow artists like Adele, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.

The #FreeKesha controversy went viral all over again a couple of weeks ago, when a court ruled that Kesha had to continue working with her alleged sexual abuser. Now Kesha’s supporters have launched a #SonyIsDroppingDrLukeParty on Twitter to celebrate the news.

There’s still no word on if or when Kesha will start making music again, however. It’s unclear how Sony will free itself from the contract, since no court has convicted Dr. Luke of a crime and there’s no legal basis. And even if/when Sony drops him, there may be a long road ahead, as Kesha may still be obligated to work with his label Kemosabe Records unless they’re pressured into releasing her.

Still, this is really promising for Kesha and her fans if it turns out to be true.