NASHVILLE, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Several record companies have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Nashville, claiming "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" uses their music without permission.

TMZ said the plaintiffs -- Arista, Atlantic, Capitol Records, Motown, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records -- did not specify how much in damages they are seeking in court papers filed Wednesday.

The labels reportedly allege they have not been paid royalties for the songs DeGeneres famously dances to at the beginning of each edition of her daytime chat show.

TMZ said the lawsuit doesn't personally involve the talk-show host.

Fox Television announced this week that DeGeneres will be replacing Paula Abdul as judge on the TV singing competition "American Idol" next season.