LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dixie Chicks sued Sony Music Entertainment, accusing the company of cheating them out of more than $4 million in royalties, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The Grammy-winning country-pop group also wants to terminate a seven-album deal it signed with the Japanese corporation in 1997, the Times reported.

Emily Robison, Martie Seidel and Natalie Maines Pasdar have sold nearly 20 million albums that have generated more than $175 million. The singers contend Sony engaged in "systematic thievery" to rob recording artists out of royalty earnings.

"We refuse to sit back and silently endorse this behavior simply because this is a 'standard' practice at Sony," the Dixie Chicks said in a statement. "This is about people keeping their word."

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Sony officials declined to comment on the suit.

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