June 20, 2000 16:24

PHIL SPECTOR LOSES COURT BATTLE

The [a]Wall Of Sound[/a] producer will have to shell out $2.6 million...

Phil Spector has been ordered to pay $2.6 million to his former wife Ronnie Spector and the two other Ronettes by a NEW YORK court.

Ronnie, her sister Estelle Bennett Dong, and their cousin Nedra Talley Ross sued "Wall Of Sound" producer Spector 13 years ago, claiming he exploited their talent without paying them royalties.

According to www.rollingstone.com, Justice Paula Omansky found on Friday (June 16) that Spector's 1963 contract with the Ronettes only covered royalties from record sales, yet he had sold their songs to movies, advertising and had licensed their master recordings for "oldies" compilations without permission.

A request from the Ronettes to transfer ownership of their catalogue to them was refused.

Spector's lawyer claimed that Ronnie had signed away rights to the group's records in her 1974 divorce settlement with Phil, and the other two had not appeared on the songs. He said after the case that they intended to appeal against the decision.

Ronnie, who is to enter a New York studio with Joey Ramone next month to begin recording a new album, said: "Does this change all the obstacles and restrictions that the defendants put in front of me that have damaged my career, such as not being able to perform my songs on TV, being blackballed from the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame? No, it doesn't, but it's a step forward. I'm glad it's finally over. Maybe now I can get back to doing what I love - making records and performing."