U P D A T E: Chandler Moore Wins Court Victory: Federal Judge Allows Solo Music Release Amid Maverick City Legal Battle

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Grammy-winning artist cleared to release “God I’m Just Grateful” while landmark lawsuit continues

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In a significant legal victory for Grammy-winning worship artist Chandler Moore, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty ruled on February 5, 2026, that Moore can release solo music while his contentious legal dispute with Maverick City Music and TRIBL Records continues in federal court.

The ruling specifically allowed Moore to release his solo single “God I’m Just Grateful” on February 6, 2026, rejecting TRIBL Records’ emergency request to block the release.

The Backstory: A Shocking Departure and Explosive Allegations

The legal drama began unfolding in early October 2025 when Moore, a founding member of the acclaimed worship collective Maverick City Music, filed a bombshell lawsuit in Atlanta federal court on October 1, 2025.

Just five days later, on October 6, 2025, Moore publicly announced his departure from the group he helped establish in 2018, stating on Instagram: “These last two years I’ve been locked in on what really matters…in my life and my career”.

The 30-year-old artist’s lawsuit names several defendants, including:

• Norman Gyamfi (Moore’s former manager and current Maverick City Music CEO)
• Maverick City Music, Inc.
• TRIBL Records
• Insignia Holding Company and related entities

The Allegations: Fraud, Forgery, and Millions in Missing Royalties

According to the lawsuit, Moore alleges that Gyamfi, who served as his personal manager from 2020 to 2023 before becoming Maverick City’s CEO, systematically abused his position of trust.

The complaint details several serious allegations:

Forged Signatures: Moore claims Gyamfi electronically forged his signature on a critical publishing agreement dated January 11, 2022, with Sony Music Entertainment, which transferred Moore’s publishing rights to The Orchard (a Sony entity) and granted Maverick City Music power of attorney over his work.

Diverted Royalties: The lawsuit alleges that in 2022, Gyamfi instructed Essential Music Publishing (Sony’s Christian music division) to redirect all of Moore’s songwriting royalties directly to Maverick City Music instead of to Moore personally.

Secret Ownership Deals: Moore claims he introduced Gyamfi to Maverick City Music in 2020, unaware that Gyamfi was secretly negotiating to become a co-owner of the collective behind his back.

Unpaid Royalties: According to a 2024 production deal, Moore agreed to deliver an album, 40 tour dates, and 12 new compositions in exchange for $1.75 million in advances and a 15% ownership stake in Maverick City Music. Moore claims he fulfilled his obligations but never received accurate royalty statements or full payment, with more than $800,000 allegedly withheld.

Master Recordings Sale: The lawsuit also alleges that Gyamfi sold Maverick City Music’s masters to Sony Music without Moore’s knowledge or consent.

Moore’s attorney, Sam Lipshie of Bradley Arant law firm, stated: “We are fully committed to helping Chandler recover what is rightfully his and assist him in moving forward freely to continue building the even-brighter, impactful career that lies ahead for him”.

Maverick City’s Response: Strong Denials and Counterclaims

Maverick City Music and its leadership have vehemently denied the allegations. Co-founder Jonathan Jay released a forceful statement on Instagram declaring: “To be clear: the claims being made against me, against Norman, and against our companies are categorically false. These aren’t misunderstandings. These are calculated attempts to strong-arm a way out of agreements Chandler made freely and later breached”.

Jay described Maverick City’s business dealings with Moore as “forthright, generous, and above reproach,” adding that the organization “acted in good faith” and “consistently extended grace”.

In their legal response, Maverick City filed counterclaims alleging that Moore failed to fulfill his contractual obligations and violated the contract’s morality clause, claiming that “Maverick City was repeatedly informed Moore had affairs or engaged in extramarital sexual acts and Maverick City suffered reputational damages as a result”.

The Recent Court Ruling: A Win for Creative Freedom

The February 5, 2026, hearing before Judge Geraghty centered on TRIBL Records’ emergency motion to prevent Moore from releasing new music.

TRIBL argued that Moore had not fulfilled his contractual commitment to deliver 10 songs to the label. However, Judge Geraghty found the matter unclear, noting that while Moore recorded 11 songs in 2024, only eight were ultimately included on his album “Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles”.

During the Thursday Zoom hearing, Judge Geraghty stated: “I find that TRIBL has not shown at this early stage that the imminent release of ‘God I’m Just Grateful’ would breach the contract. I simply don’t think that the case is quite as simple as TRIBL would make it”.

The judge emphasized that to win an injunction, a party must demonstrate they are “more likely than not to succeed on the merits” — a threshold TRIBL failed to meet given the uncertainties surrounding the case.

Judge Geraghty cautioned that her decision could change as the case progresses and “certainly swing the other way going forward depending on what the evidence shows.” She urged both parties to engage in settlement discussions.

Following the ruling, Moore’s attorney Chad Elder told Billboard: “Chandler Moore is grateful for the court’s ruling, which denied the defendants’ efforts to prevent him from doing what he loves, providing for his family, and inspiring others”.

Additional Legal Complications: RICO Allegations

The Maverick City legal saga has expanded beyond Moore’s lawsuit. Tony Brown, another co-founder of Maverick City Music, filed his own lawsuit in 2024 alleging that Gyamfi and Insignia failed to complete promised buyout payments from a 2023 deal.

Brown later added explosive racketeering claims under Georgia’s RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, alleging he was coerced into an unfavorable buyout agreement through threats of “character assassination” and financial ruin.

Maverick City has countersued Brown, claiming he violated a non-compete clause by launching a new Christian music project called “God Aura”.

What Happens Next?

As of mid-February 2026, the legal battle remains far from resolved. Here’s what lies ahead:

Ongoing Litigation: The civil fraud case between Moore and Maverick City/TRIBL continues in Atlanta federal court, with both sides filing motions and counterclaims.

Discovery Process: Both parties will engage in the discovery phase, where evidence, documents, and depositions will be exchanged to build their respective cases.

Potential Settlement: Judge Geraghty has encouraged the parties to pursue settlement discussions, though no indication exists that either side is willing to compromise at this stage.

Moore’s Solo Career: With legal clearance secured, Moore is actively moving forward with independent musical projects. While no official release dates beyond “God I’m Just Grateful” have been announced, the ruling removes a significant barrier to his creative work.

Additional Hearings: Court filings show continued activity in the case through February 2026, with multiple motions pending before Judge Geraghty.

Parallel Cases: The separate lawsuits involving Tony Brown and the RICO allegations will proceed independently but could impact the broader legal landscape surrounding Maverick City Music.

Industry Impact and Broader Implications

This legal dispute has sent shockwaves through the Christian and gospel music community, raising critical questions about artist rights, management ethics, and financial transparency in the faith-based music industry.

The case has also prompted discussions about:

• The power dynamics between artists and management in Christian music
• The importance of independent legal counsel for artists entering contracts
• The need for greater financial accountability in gospel music collectives

Notably, fellow Maverick City founding member Naomi Raine also announced her departure from the group on the same day as Moore, though she did not file legal action.

Moving Forward

For Moore, the February court ruling represents more than just a legal victory — it’s a vindication of his right to continue his calling as a worship leader and artist. In his October 2025 departure statement, Moore wrote: “My dream hasn’t changed. I’m stepping into this next phase ready to share my story and make music that helps people feel a little more human, a little more understood, and a little less alone”.

As the legal proceedings continue through 2026, the Christian music community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings justice, healing, and clarity to all parties involved.

Gospel Newsroom will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they become available.

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About Chandler Moore: A five-time Grammy Award winner, Chandler Moore was a founding member of Maverick City Music (established 2018) and is known for worship hits including “Jireh” and “Promises.” He currently serves as a worship leader at Church of The Nations in Texas.

About Maverick City Music: Founded in 2018, the Atlanta-based worship collective has won five Grammy Awards and revolutionized contemporary Christian worship music with its collaborative, diverse approach to songwriting and performance.