Travis Scott Goes After “UTOPIA” Tour Production Company For $100 Million


Travis Scott might have had an incredibly successful tour for his 2023 album UTOPIA, but one particular aspect left him fuming. He launched a $100 million lawsuit against Wyoming-based production company Show Motion Engineering (SME) for allegedly damaging his brand and causing significant financial losses. Specifically, La Flame and his legal team allege that SME did not deliver on their promise to make the rapper a custom stage set for his 2023 tour for the aforementioned album, and also claimed that they exploited his image and name without his permission. His company XX Global backed up his claims that SME breached their stage contract based on a $1.5 million commission.

According to court documents reportedly obtained by AllHipHop, the Nike collaborator accused SME of failing to build the stage for an inspection, which the contract apparently ordered before the transfer of any final payment. As such, Travis Scott’s team did not send future payments through, which led SME to hold the set hostage and lead to its inability of use for the 2023 UTOPIA tour. Not only that, but the lawsuit also alleges that SME added insult to injury by failing to deliver the stage and using the Houston MC’s brand for profit.

Travis Scott At The 2024 Olympics

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; American artist Travis Scott looks on before the game between United States and Serbia in a men’s basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

Furthermore, this includes SME’s allegedly unauthorized use of Travis Scott’s likeness, name, and past concerts as promo material for the company’s website, including designs copyrighted by XX Global. As such, the “CIRCUS MAXIMUS” multi-hyphenate alleges that SME tried to improve their reputation and seek out prospective clients by using this material without permission.

“The aforementioned acts, among others…were done intentionally or with a conscious disregard of [Travis Scott’s] rights, and with the intent to vex, injure or annoy [Scott] such as to constitute oppression, fraud, or malice, thus entitling [Scott] to exemplary and punitive damages in an amount appropriate to punish or set an example of Defendants, and each of them, and to deter such conduct in the future,” Scott’s attorney Edwin F. McPherson reportedly stated. As for damages, the 2025 Coachella designer wants $5 million in direct copyright infringement losses and approximately $10 million that represent profits that SME allegedly benefitted from their marketing with the copyrighted designs. Finally, for the alleged violation of his publicity rights and the misuse of his image and name, he wants SME to cough up $100 million.

About The Author

Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case.

Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.



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