NE-YO GETS HIS R.KELLY TOUR MONEY: Judge orders $700,000 settlement against promoter

A concert promoter has been ordered by the court to pay Ne-Yo almost a million dollars stemming from A lawsuit filed earlier this year.

If you recall, the singer/songwriter/producer was let go from the R. Kelly tour last year after only two shows. He claimed he was dropped because he had upstaged Kelly, an allegation the Chicago based performer vehemently denied.

Ne-Yo instead sued the tour's promoter, Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment Inc., which, interestingly, never answered the lawsuit.

However, the company did post a statement on its website, after the lawsuit's filing, that said that it couldn't obtain a "final, fully executed contract" from Ne-Yo's agent.

Apparently, it didn't matter because last week Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey ordered the company to pay Ne-Yo (real name: Shaffer Smith) and his touring company $700,320.

NeYo's new CD "Year of the Gentleman" is scheduled for release on September 16