Actor Drake Bell has been ordered to pay a music producer almost $43,000 after allegedly failing to settle an invoice for songs he commissioned.

John Fields launched a legal battle against Bell, the star of now-defunct Nickelodeon TV show Drake & Josh, in August (12) over claims he was owed money for working on tracks for his 2011 EP A Reminder.

Bell reportedly agreed to a fee of $9,000 per tune, but he only paid for five of the nine he requested.

The 26 year old did not respond to the lawsuit, so a Los Angeles judge issued a default judgement in court this week (ends23Nov12) - and ruled in Fields' favor.

The producer, who has previously worked with Selena Gomez and The Jonas Brothers, sued for $36,000 , but was awarded a total of $42,787 for interest and legal fees, according to TMZ.com.