John Oates said he was trying to sell his share of the Hall & Oates business because legal wrangling had frustrated him and he thought Daryl Hall wanted independence. Asked in a May 17, 2024, Good Morning America interview whether he agreed that his actions were clandestine and in bad faith, Oates replied: “Not at all. I don’t.” The dispute later concluded in private arbitration, but its terms—and whether the proposed sale went ahead—were not publicly disclosed in the latest report.
What did John Oates say about the lawsuit?
In an interview with Michael Strahan aired by Good Morning America on May 17, 2024, Oates said he had become frustrated as the matter grew mired in legal complications. He explained that he wanted to sell his share because he thought Hall wanted to be his own man and that selling could let Hall “do what he wants.” Oates also said Hall objected to the particular third party involved.
Hall had characterized Oates’s pursuit of a sale as a betrayal. Asked whether he accepted Hall’s description of his actions as clandestine and in bad faith, Oates said, “Not at all. I don’t.” These were opposing accounts by the two musicians, not findings by a court.
What was the Hall & Oates lawsuit about?
The disagreement centered on Oates’s proposed sale of his stake in Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC. Hall’s position was that the transaction required his consent and that Oates had pursued it without obtaining that consent. Oates said he believed he had the right to sell his share.
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Court reporting described Whole Oats as holding Hall & Oates-related assets, including trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income, and website and social media assets. In November 2023, Hall filed in Nashville seeking to pause the proposed sale while private arbitration could proceed; a judge temporarily paused it. The pause was not a ruling that either musician’s allegations were true.
How did the dispute develop?
- October 2, 2023: ABC News reported, citing paperwork described in Hall’s filing, that negotiations with Primary Wave had begun by this date, when a nondisclosure agreement was signed. Hall said he first learned of the proposed deal on October 20.
- November 2023: Hall filed in Nashville to pause the proposed sale while arbitration proceeded. A judge paused the sale.
- May 17, 2024: Oates gave his public explanation and rejected Hall’s characterization of his actions in an interview aired by Good Morning America.
- August 11, 2025: The Associated Press reported that the dispute had been resolved through private arbitration. Hall’s attorneys said a final arbitration judgment had been issued and submitted a proposed order asking the judge to dismiss the court case.
What is known about the arbitration outcome?
The Associated Press’s August 11, 2025, report said the arbitration terms were not disclosed and that it was unclear when the arbitration had been finalized. The public reporting does not establish whether money changed hands, whether either musician admitted wrongdoing, or whether the proposed Primary Wave transaction ultimately proceeded. Hall’s attorneys reported a final arbitration judgment; they also filed a proposed dismissal order, which is not itself evidence of the confidential terms.
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Oates has said that he could not discuss legal proceedings. In a December 2023 interview with the AP, he said there had been “no communication” with Hall and that a reunion was not in his plans. In the May 2024 interview, Oates said they had not worked together creatively in more than 20 years, describing their later work together as concerts, and said he did not see a reunion happening from his point of view. Those comments describe Oates’s perspective at the time; they do not establish Hall’s current intentions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Daryl Hall say about reconciliation?
In the AP’s August 2025 coverage, Hall said of reconciliation: “That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean.” The remark concerned the relationship between the two musicians, not the arbitration’s terms or the outcome of the proposed sale.
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