Kesha Not Freed From Dr. Luke Contract

A New York judge refused Friday to release pop singer Kesha from her contract with producer Dr. Luke, which has become a source of contention for the artist’s career after she accused him of sexual abuse and refused to continue working with him as mandated by her deal. In 2014, Kesha sued the mega-producer—with whom she was under contract since 2005—for allegedy drugging and raping her, among other claims. The judge apparently sided with Dr. Luke after hearing how the producer invested $60 million in Kesha’s career and that he allowed the singer to make music without his involvement. “That decimates your argument,” the judge told Kesha and her counsel. “My instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing.”