The University of Southern California (USC) has reached a tentative settlement in Sony Music’s lawsuit alleging its sports teams used hundreds of unlicensed songs by stars like Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and Travis Scott in Instagram and TikTok hype videos.

A Wednesday (March 25) notice in New York federal court says Sony and USC have agreed to a “settlement in principle” that would end the major label’s copyright infringement claims. They asked a judge to suspend current litigation deadlines so they can finalize and sign the deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed.

Reps for Sony and USC both declined to comment on the settlement on Thursday (March 26).

Sony sued USC almost exactly a year ago, claiming the school’s various sports social media accounts had posted more than 250 videos featuring more than 170 unlicensed songs owned by the music giant. The list included a slew of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” and SZA’s “Kill Bill.”

The lawsuit complained that USC could have afforded to buy synch licenses for these songs, noting that the college sports powerhouse generates more than $200 million in annual revenue. Sony sought the maximum damages of $150,000 per allegedly infringed song, which would total more than $25 million.

In a statement to Billboard at the time, a USC rep said the university “respects the intellectual property rights of others and will respond to these allegations in court.” USC’s pre-settlement court filings focused narrowly on the issue of venue, arguing it was improper for the California-based institution to be sued in New York.

It’s become common practice in recent years for the major record labels to sue owners of corporate social media accounts over music licensing. While platforms like Instagram and TikTok have blanket licenses in place that allow individual users to freely soundtrack their videos from vast libraries of pre-cleared songs, music companies require commercial accounts to purchase synch licenses to use their material.

These lawsuits have roped in such targets as Chili’s, NBA teams and the cookie company Crumbl. The bulk of these cases settle confidentially. Some defendants fight back, though; shoe retailer DSW, for example, recently went on the offensive with a lawsuit of its own, claiming blanket social media licenses should also cover businesses.

It was a celebratory good time in Miami on Thursday (March 26) during the second annual Femmy Awards. Presented by Femme House, the awards honor women and allies across the dance music industry, from artists to labels to agents to parties and beyond.

Awards were divided into two categories: publicly voted and those chosen by a special committee. See the complete winners list below.

2026 Femmy Publicly Voted Awards Winners

Ableton instructor of the year: Honoring the educators who lead the way by example for every student that enrolls in a Femme House Session or signs up for an online course

Album or EP of the year: Recognizing a full body of work that pushed sonic and cultural boundaries

Best club: Recognizing a nightclub that champions diversity, safe spaces, and inclusive lineups, shaping the electronic music scene

Best DJ set or live performance: Recognizing a live performance that stood out for its creativity, energy and impact

Best Femme House radio mix: Recognizing an outstanding Femme House Radio mix, showcasing innovative track selection and storytelling

Best producer: Recognizing a producer whose work stood out for its originality, technical mastery and influence on the sound of dance music

Best record label: Recognizing a label that prioritizes femme, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists

Best underground promoter: Honoring the grassroots, regional promoters in the U.S. who are shaping underground dance culture

Best vocalist: Recognizing the often heard but not seen voices of dance music

Breakthrough artist: Honoring artists who had phenomenal years and set the bar for visibility, artistic output, and buzz

Femme House activist & impact award: Honoring an artist, collective or industry professional using their platform to advocate for social change and inclusion in the music industry

Femme House community member of the year: Celebrating an individual in the Femme House community whose dedication, passion and engagement have gone above and beyond to embody the spirit of Femme House

“For the Culture” award: Honoring BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creators and platforms making an impact in serving their communities

Innovator award: Recognizing innovation and impact in sound design, cultural significance and more

Most diverse lineup: Honoring the show bills that have challenged the notion that the best lineups are predominantly male and white

Song of the year: Recognizing a song that showcases innovation, inclusivity, and exceptional artistry from a femme, non-binary, or LGBTQ+ producer, DJ or vocalist

2026 Femmy Committee Voted Award Nominees

Agent of the year: Celebrating an agent who has made a significant impact in advancing the careers of diverse talent in the music industry

Best music journalist: Honoring a writer who has championed diverse voices in music media and amplified underrepresented artists through their work

Best talent booker or promoter: Honoring a booker dedicated to diverse, femme, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists, curating inclusive and groundbreaking lineups

Culture shifter: Recognizing an industry leader who has made significant strides in promoting diversity and inclusion within electronic music and beyond

Manager of the year: Recognizing a manager who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to artist development, advocacy, and career growth

Theresa Velasquez award for outstanding executive: Theresa Velasquez’s legacy is that of a beloved executive who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to amplify diverse talent. This committee voted category recognizes executives that honor that legacy in their own work.