A Pop Star Is Embroiled in a Legal Battle with a New Zealand Label. She Just Wants to Be a ‘Normal Musician’ Again

Why It Matters

The case underscores royalty‑tracking risks for artists and potential financial exposure for indie labels, prompting tighter contract safeguards across the music industry.

Key Takeaways

• Hainsworth sued Do It Management and The Orchard for royalty breaches.
• Contract promised 50% profit after expenses; payments allegedly missing.
• High Court could award up to NZ$150k per breach (~US$90k).
• Unreleased tracks with DJ VINNE delayed by the legal fight.
• Hainsworth published a book while awaiting court decision.

Pulse Analysis

British‑Australian pop singer Alexandra Hainsworth signed a deal with New Zealand‑based Do It Records in March 2022, granting the label promotion, publishing and distribution rights while promising the artist a 50 percent share of net profits after expenses. The agreement relied on The Orchard, a Sony Music subsidiary, to handle digital distribution. Hainsworth alleges that Do It Management failed to track and remit royalties, leaving her without income from releases that should have generated revenue for both parties. After months of unanswered requests, she terminated the contract in late 2024 under New Zealand law and pursued legal action.

The dispute escalated to New Zealand’s High Court in early 2025 after Hainsworth and her manager Victor Paul engaged Australian counsel and later local IP specialists. The court can award up to NZ$150,000 per copyright breach, roughly US$90,000, underscoring the financial risk for labels that mishandle royalty accounting. Do It Management disputes the claim, arguing that payments were made according to internal records. Legal experts say the case could set a regional precedent for how royalty‑tracking failures are judged, prompting artists and distributors across Oceania to tighten audit clauses and consider exit provisions.

While the legal battle proceeds, Hainsworth’s career has stalled; two collaborations with DJ VINNE, a producer linked to Alok and Marshmello, remain unreleased. To stay visible, she launched a debut novel, *Kingdom of Flight*, and continued touring locally, showing resilience amid uncertainty. A favorable judgment would free her to distribute the pending tracks, re‑establish her brand as a ‘normal musician,’ and potentially recover lost royalties. The case also highlights the High Court’s role in enforcing music‑industry IP rights, reminding artists to secure transparent royalty mechanisms early and embed clear termination clauses before signing with emerging labels.