R. Kelly Music

R. Kelly Music encompasses the music career and business arrangements of Robert Sylvester Kelly, an influential R&B singer and songwriter known for popular hits. Despite his musical success, he has faced significant legal issues, including a conviction for sex trafficking, impacting his career and legacy.

CCI Score

-8.73

0.01% April 16

Latest Event

Court-Ordered Restitution for Music Royalties

On August 25, 2023, a New York judge ruled that R. Kelly and affiliated entities, including Universal Music Group, must use funds from music publishing royalties—exceeding $500,000—to pay restitution to victims of R. Kelly's sexual abuse. This court order enforces accountability for past abuses and directs financial remediation to support the victims.

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COLLABORATOR

R. Kelly Music is currently rated as a Collaborator.

-5 to -9 CCI Score

In this category, companies align with authoritarian practices mainly to avoid trouble or regulatory conflict. Their compliance is driven by self-preservation, resulting in minimal resistance even as they participate in oppressive systems.

Latest Events

AUG

25

2023

Court-Ordered Restitution for Music Royalties
33.91

On August 25, 2023, a New York judge ruled that R. Kelly and affiliated entities, including Universal Music Group, must use funds from music publishing royalties—exceeding $500,000—to pay restitution to victims of R. Kelly's sexual abuse. This court order enforces accountability for past abuses and directs financial remediation to support the victims.
+40

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 3

The court-mandated restitution order compels adherence to ethical business practices by redirecting funds to victims, supporting justice and accountability for harm inflicted on marginalized communities. Although the decision was externally imposed, compliance reflects a positive, remedial step in addressing unethical behavior within the music industry.

R. Kelly and Universal Music Group must pay over $500,000 in music royalties to his victims, judge rules
JUN

14

2018

Continued Business Operations Amidst Allegations
-20.16

Amid growing protests and activism demanding accountability for R. Kelly's long history of sexual abuse accusations, R. Kelly Music continues to operate within an industry that shields controversial figures. This persistence in business as usual, without taking substantive steps to address ethical concerns, highlights problematic practices that enable impunity and harm marginalized communities.
-40

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 3

R. Kelly Music’s continued operations despite widespread protests and activist demands for accountability illustrate a concerning business practice. By maintaining profitable arrangements and ignoring calls for change, the company contributes to an industry culture that prioritizes commercial interests over ethical responsibility, undermining trust and perpetuating harm against marginalized groups.

Why Is the Music Industry Still Protecting R. Kelly?
MAY

10

2018

Deplatforming of R. Kelly Music on Spotify
-39.94

Spotify has removed R. Kelly Music from its editorial and algorithmic playlists starting May 10 as part of a new hate content and hateful conduct policy. This deplatforming reflects a broader repudiation of hate-driven content and harmful behavior associated with the artist.
-80

Public and Political Behavior

April 3

The removal of R. Kelly Music from Spotify's playlists under a new hate content policy highlights the company's association with harmful and hateful conduct. Such deplatforming demonstrates societal and industry rejection of hate-driven behavior, negatively impacting the public and political behavior profile of R. Kelly Music.

Spotify Removes R. Kelly Music From Its Playlists As Part of New Hate Content & Hateful Conduct Policy