Sony Music and DSW reach settlement in principle over unlicensed music in social media ads

Sony Music and Designer Brands, DSW's parent, reached a settlement in principle disclosed in an August 17 filing in the US District Court for the Central District of California. Sony sued in August 2025 over at least 122 unlicensed recordings used across 170-plus social media ads, including Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Financial terms were not disclosed; the agreement remains unexecuted.