Singer Kesha has had her request to escape her music contract denied by a New York judge.
The lawsuit was filed by Kesha in October 2014 against her former producer, Dr. Luke, who she claims abused her mentally and physically over a 10-year-period. She claims he plied her with alcohol and drugs soon after she signed with him in 2005 at the age of 18. She claims that on one occasion, he gave her "sober pills" and she later woke up naked in his bed.
Dr. Luke in turn filed a counter-lawsuit claiming she was extorting him to be released from her contract. She has been unable to release new music since then, with Timber, her chart-topping duet with Pitbull, being her last release back in 2013.
Kesha is contracted to Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records, a division of Sony. Her refusal to work with her alleged abuser means she is unable to work on new music. Sony claim they have given her permission to work with new producers but her lawyers claimed that they have no interest in promoting her music. She is contracted for 6 more albums with them.
The judge in the case cited the lack of medical evidence to back up the singer's claims of abuse. Kesha sobbed in court when the verdict was delivered. Fans around the world have been using the hashtag #FreeKesha to show their support for the singer.
