Songwriter Awarded $44 Million in Lawsuit Over Usher’s Hit Song

A songwriter who claims he was robbed of profits from a 2004 Usher song has been awarded over $44 million in damages. According to Rolling Stone, Philadelphia songwriter Daniel Marino claimed that he was cut out of profits to “Bad Girl,” a song recorded by Usher for his 2004 multi-platinum album Confessions. Originally named “Club Girl,” Marino claimed that he created a majority of the song, including the “guitar hook, tempo and chord progression.” A jury at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas last week awarded Marino $44.35 million, $27 million of which will come from his co-writer William Guice in compensatory and punitive damages. Another $17.35 million will come from Dante Barton, owner of Destro Music Productions. As a result of the ruling, Marino now owns a third of the song’s ownership rights, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Usher wasn’t named in the suit.