Daryl Hall and John Oates Put Legal Drama to Rest Behind Closed Doors

While entertaining fans for over five decades, the legacy of Hall & Oates came to an end in 2024. Decided to part ways, the duo produced several hit songs throughout their career with “Rich Girl”, “Private Eyes”, and “Maneater.” But outside of wanting to explore a solo career, both Daryl Hall and John Oates found themselves at odds when it came to Oates wanting to sell his stake in the group. Taking the matter to court, it appeared that both parties came to an agreement behind closed doors. 

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When joining forces, the duo created the partnership Whole Oats Enterprise. Outside of the unique name, the partnership acted as the central hub to all things Hall & Oates. That included rights, trademarks, royalty income, social media, and even their website. Although Whole Oats Enterprise seemed like a great idea, Oates sought to sell his stake in the partnership to Primary Wave. Not a fan of the decision, Hall fought back, leading both parties to court. 

According to Rolling Stone, a new filing on Monday revealed that Hall and Oates came to an agreement. Hall’s attorney wrote, “The claims have been adjudicated in arbitration. Given the entry of final judgment in arbitration, plaintiffs will be contemporaneously filing a notice of voluntary dismissal with the court.”

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Daryl Hall Insisted He Was “Blindsided” By Potential Sale

With their disagreement playing out in headlines over the last two years, the quiet ending came as a surprise to some. Especially when Hall initially explained during the original filing, “I was blindsided. I have no intention of becoming partners with Primary Wave, and the Oates Trust cannot be permitted to thrust a new partner upon me in this outrageous fashion.”

As for Hall, he insisted on being “tremendously disappointed” in how his former collaborator responded. Appearing to care little about the matter, Oates told Rolling Stone, “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve moved on. I feel like I have a new lease on my creative life.”

Since ending their partnership, both Hall and Oates explored solo careers. In 2024, the singers released albums. Oates released his first solo album in nearly six years, Reunion. And for Hall, he released D in June 2024. 

With fans continuing to enjoy the legacy that Hall & Oates created, many were left reflecting on the duo’s remarkable journey and wondering if this truly marked the final chapter of their storied partnership.  

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)