Lola Young has initiated legal proceedings against Carter Lang, a producer of her chart-topping single “Messy,” amid a disagreement regarding songwriting credits.
The British vocalist has filed an intellectual property claim in court against Lang. Her legal representatives stated they were left with “no choice” after he allegedly sought writing credits on four of her tracks, a claim she “strongly refuted.”
As of yet, the American producer and songwriter has not issued a response.
The filing, made on behalf of Young and Sony Music Publishing, occurred in London on Wednesday. This follows Young’s recent announcement that she was cancelling all shows “for the foreseeable future” after collapsing on stage during a New York performance.
The 24-year-old singer experienced a surge in popularity late last year, propelled by the viral success of “Messy.”
The song held the number one position for four weeks and currently stands as the second most-streamed track of 2025 in the UK.
In a statement, Young’s legal team expressed “immense disappointment, especially given recent events,” adding that they were “left with no choice” but to respond to Lang’s claims with legal action. They further stated, “Carter’s claims are strongly refuted, and we will not allow Lola’s reputation and integrity to be called into question – particularly so long after the sessions took place and agreements were put in place.”
The statement continued, “Lola has consistently maintained an authentic songwriting process and appropriately acknowledges contributions. This dispute has been ongoing for several months, and we anticipate the truth being established.”
Young’s representatives have not yet confirmed which specific tracks are subject to the dispute.
Lang is credited as one of four producers on “Messy” and has collaborated with Young on various other songs.
He gained prominence through his work with R&B artist SZA and has since become a highly sought-after producer and writer, collaborating with prominent artists such as Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Renee Rapp, and Rosé.