Los Lobos, the U.S. Chicano rock band, has settled its breach of contract lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment over digital royalties for “Canción del Mariachi,” the group’s collaboration with Antonio Banderas from the 1995 film Desperado.
A court filing dated Friday, Aug. 21, states that both sides have jointly agreed to dismiss the case. Evan Cohen, an attorney for Los Lobos, said the matter has been settled but declined to disclose terms. A Sony Music representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Streaming dispute over walkout anthem#
Los Lobos filed the lawsuit in December 2025 against Sony Music, whose imprint Milan Records distributes “Canción del Mariachi.” The band alleged it had received no digital royalties for the recording even as streams increased after mixed martial artist Ilia “El Matador” Topuria began using the song as his walkout anthem.
“Despite the specific knowledge that the popularity of the recording was spiking and reaching new audiences, Sony and Milan still paid nothing to Los Lobos for streaming, and continues to pay nothing, for streaming anywhere in the world or for any time period,” the lawsuit stated.
Sony Music denied wrongdoing and liability in its first response in February. Banderas was not a party to the case.
Separate La Bamba case continues#
The settlement does not end all litigation between Los Lobos and Sony companies. The band still has a pending lawsuit against Sony Pictures Entertainment over royalties from the 1987 Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba.
That case, filed in November 2025, alleges Los Lobos has been deprived of international streaming royalties for Valens covers recorded for the soundtrack, including the band’s version of “La Bamba,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Hot 100 in 1987. Sony Pictures and its subsidiary Columbia Pictures handle royalty accounting for that soundtrack outside the United States and Canada.
Sony Pictures says it has complied with all payment obligations. According to court filings, the company investigated after the La Bamba lawsuit was filed and found that $17,000 in foreign streaming royalties had been underpaid for a “discrete time period.” Lawyers for Sony Pictures say the company sent that amount plus interest, totaling $22,000, to the band in January. Los Lobos contends additional money is still owed, and mediation remains ongoing.
