Soca artiste Patrice Roberts has been ordered to pay US$25,104.12 to a Canadian-based entertainment company following a breach of contract dispute dating back to 2015.
The ruling was handed down by Robin Mohammed in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, bringing closure to a long-running legal matter involving Soca Bookings Incorporated.
The dispute stemmed from an oral management agreement made in February 2015, under which the company provided artiste management services, including bookings, branding, recording arrangements, and international promotion.
Justice Mohammed found that while a valid contract existed, several key terms were unclear particularly whether management fees were to be paid immediately or only after the venture became profitable.
The court accepted Roberts’ position that fees were to be deferred until profitability, noting that the company failed to prove that this threshold had been met.
Despite this, the judge ruled that Soca Bookings was still entitled to compensation for services rendered and financial advances made to support Roberts’ career. The company was awarded US$35,472.
However, the court also upheld Roberts’ counterclaim, finding that the company owed her US$10,367.88 in digital music sales collected during the management period.
This amount was set off against the original award, resulting in a final payment of US$25,104.12 to be made by Roberts. Both parties were also awarded pre-judgment interest and legal costs.
A separate claim for US$11,600 related to a music video shoot was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed highlighted the risks of informal agreements in the entertainment industry, noting that the dispute could likely have been avoided if the parties had formalised their arrangement in writing.
The case serves as a cautionary example for artistes and managers to ensure clear, written contracts outlining financial terms, obligations, and expectations.
