Billy Joel refuses to share life and music rights to upcoming biopic surrounding him; calls it ‘legally and professionally misguided’

Billy Joel will not be giving music rights for a script that is not authorized by him. The legendary singer expressed through his representative that he condemns the upcoming biopic, ‘Billy and Me,’ which will begin filming in the fall. Calling it ‘legally and professionally misguided,’ the 77-year-old refused to support it by withholding the life and music rights.

Billy Joel does not support a new biopic surrounding him

The feature film, directed by John Ottman, was announced on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. “Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project,” the statement notes, according to People Magazine. Moreover, the Grammy winner firmly believes that the project, if moved forward with authorization, will be misguided in all capacities.On the other hand, Screenwriter Adam Ripp shared that the team did not express their desire to own the music rights, nor has the film ever been conceived around the use of his hit catalog, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “The project was always designed as an intimate origin story focused on the people and relationships surrounding Billy during this specific period of his life,” he said.

About ‘Billy and Me’

‘Billy and Me’ revolves around the story of Joel’s first manager, Irwin Mazur, who reportedly discovered the singer, signed him, and handled his career until his career took off the next year with Piano Man, as per Variety. As the casting of the film goes underway, the director has secured the life rights of Mazur and drummer Jon Small, who is also attached to the film in multiple roles as an executive. Jon Small and Billy Joel formed a band together in the 1960s but broke up in 1971, when it was revealed that Joel had an affair with Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber.