Daryl Hall and John Oates

Photo Credit: Raph PH / CC by 2.0

Daryl Hall and John Oates resolve their long-running legal dispute over the latter’s plan to sell his half of their joint venture to Primary Wave.

Daryl Hall and John Oates have finally resolved their dispute over Oates’ plan to sell his half of their joint venture to Primary Wave Music. According to court documents filed on August 11, the matter has been privately resolved, with no additional details publicly revealed.

The duo’s long-running legal spat began in 2023 when Hall launched arbitration seeking to block Oates from selling his half of their Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave. Hall had accused Oates of blindsiding and betraying him, while Oates said he was “deeply hurt” by Hall’s “inflammatory” remarks about him.

Oates intended to sell his stake in the company, including the band’s name and likeness rights, as well as royalties. A Nashville judge temporarily blocked Oates’ offer in November 2023, determining that the proposed deal could not go through until an arbitrator had decided whether to impose a restraining order.

Last year, Oates revealed he’s had “no communication” with his former bandmate and declined to discuss the matter further. He also said he had no plans for a reunion.

“I personally don’t see it happening. It’s not in my plans at all,” he said. “You can ask Daryl Hall what he thinks. But for me personally, no.”

Meanwhile, Hall told The Times in February that the ship had sailed on mending the pair’s relationship. “That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so I’m kind of used to it.”

With dozens of hits spanning the 1970s and 1980s, including “Maneater,” “Kiss On My List,” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” Hall and Oates are a celebrated heritage act that fits well into Primary Wave’s business model.

The company has become a music catalog marketing powerhouse over the past 15 years, having acquired assets from the likes of Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Prince, and James Brown, as well as many others.