March 19, 2010

A former producer to pop sensation Lady Gaga has sued his one-time protege for more than $30 million claiming he was instrumental to her success but unable to profit from it when their romance ended.

In his lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court, Rob Fusari contends he was a key figure in transforming the ambitious young woman named Stefani Germanotta into the pop phenomenon she is today, even helping coin her moniker, Lady Gaga.

But when their romance fizzled, Fusari was cut out of her record deal, failed to be paid royalties on subsequent music sales and was shortchanged on the producer fees he was due.

"All business is personal. When those personal relationships evolve into romantic entanglements, any corresponding business relationship usually follows the same trajectory so that when one crashes they all burn. That is what happened here." the lawsuit said.

Lady Gaga, a 23 year-old double Grammy-award winner, is considered among the most exciting new pop artists of recent times and has sold over 10 million albums worldwide.

She has cultivated a rabid fanbase with hits such as "Bad Romance" and Poker Face," and thrilled audiences with stunts such as setting her piano alight at the American Music Awards or having fake blood drip from her ribs in a live performance.

The suit details how Gaga met Fusari in March 2006 through a mutual friend. Initially unimpressed by her appearance, he asked her to sing and was "within seconds" blown away.

"Fusari thought Germanotta's songs were brilliant but lacked commercial appeal. He pushed her to explore different musical genres," the suit said.

As the relationship became romantic, the suit details how Fusari supposedly began crafting Germanotta's image, even accidentally purloining the Lady Gaga name.

"One day when Fusari addressed a cell phone text to Germanotta under the moniker "Radio Ga Ga" his cell phone's spell check converted "Radio" to "Lady." Germanotta loved it and "Lady Gaga" was born."

But the stress of working together eventually began to impact their relationship and they began bickering. Fusari even goes so far as to say Lady Gaga was 'verbally abusive' in his lawsuit. By January 2007, they cut ties to one another.

Fusari alleges that a deal signed by Gaga's company Mermaid Music LLC with Interscope records later in 2007 entitles him to 20 percent of proceeds, and a portion of merchandising and other revenue. He also is asking for royalties and producer fees he says were never paid.

The producer also has helped produce music for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Will Smith and Destiny's Child, according to various media reports.

A representative for Lady Gaga could not immediately be reached for comment.


http://abcnews.go.com/Ent...d=10142268
[Edited 3/19/10 9:36am]

I find it hard to believe that even Lady Gaga has generated $30 million in royalties in this day and age, let alone that $30M covering his 20%

Why do people wait three-to-five years to sue somebody? Is it lawsuit entanglements?

And how can she generate $30 million if she's only sold 10 million worldwide thus far?

I was just reading this.





3. "Paparazzi" Lady Gaga, Rob Fusari 3:28
4. "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" Lady Gaga, Fusari 2:54

11. "Brown Eyes" Lady Gaga, Fusari 4:05

He better bring proof that he did not get credited because it says on her album that he is ...

paisleypark4 said:

I wonder why he would say he didn't get credit unless he means he didn't get credit on all the songs on her debut, if that's what he's saying. If not, then he's a real dummy.

What a shameless liar that guy is. Phone's spell check converted "Radio" to "Lady"?
I have my cell phone in front of me, R is on Number 7 with P,Q,S, the A is on Number 2 with b&c, D is on 3 with e&f, I is on 4 with g&h, O is on 6 with m&n. I don't see any letters which could have formed the word "Lady" on these numbers.

paisleypark4 said:

Not to mention THESE tracks from The Fame (depending on the country)

15. "Disco Heaven" (Lady Gaga, Fusari, Tom Kafafian)
16. "Again Again" (Lady Gaga, Fusari)
17. "Retro Dance Freak" (Lady Gaga, Fusari)

Didn't Fusari just come out a few weeks back and complained about Bey taking his "Bootylicious" credit?
[Edited 3/19/10 8:30am]

I read about this.

If she copyrighted the name LadyGaga then she owns it.

Shit happens when you become famous.

I wonder how many bills he is in debt for now? Must be looking for a quick way to pay off creditors

luv4u said:

ActionJackson said:

I do like Retro and Disco...but yeah you are right he definitley feels lonely and trying to get attention and money. Lawd.

I like this part


Oh, he just had to mention he wasn't impressed by her appearance.

Identity said:

If Rob Fusari has the evidence to prove that he created OR co-created the Lady Gaga image AND have the trademarks & copyrights register under his name with her name, then he could win the lawsuit; Better yet, convince Gaga & Universal/Interscope to settle out-of-court.

Otherwise, he will lose. The Baphomet is on Gaga side.

Just saying.

Timmy84 said:

1. Getting a great entertainment lawyer cost money. It must have taken Rob at least the first 2 years alone to find one he could allow, regardless if he wins OR lose a case in court.

2. Gaga gets most of her money as a songwriter and as a live performer, NOT from album sales. For anything, Rob is taken her AND Universal Music to court in order to sue for exactly $30 million.

paisleypark4 said:

....except that Rob is complaining that he NEVER got his share of the money as a songwriter at all. If he is telling the truth, that means someone in Gaga's business management screw up on the paper work.

There is some good news that comes out of this.....

Now I can add Lady Gaga on the list of female artists that have been F***ing For Tracks. THIS is wonderful!

Identity said:

[Edited 3/19/10 14:38pm]

TonyVanDam said:

:boff:omet

Im surprised that no one has said that since she started hanging with Beyonce (who everyone has sued) now GaGa gets hit with a suit. This Suit is purely against the label, thats who has that kind of cash, there is no way she has that in the bank, no way, regardless of songwriting royalities, no label would let any artist first time out have that kind of control over "money" so this is a suit against the label since they will have to fight it, settle it or get it thrown out and dismissed.

As for the credits that were shown for his assistance on those songs, if he didnt get paid for his involvement he could get something from it, I mean technically when you are listed like that for credit, if shit sells you have to give proceeds, unless he signed away his rights and i higly doubt that.

TonyVanDam said:

So the plot thickens. Maybe Gaga isn't the well rounded artist we have been led to believe she is.

lastdecember said:

Oh Lord I didn't even think of it! But yeah I also think this is an issue with the label...

lastdecember said:

Exactly on all counts. Universal may most likely settle out of court.

TonyVanDam said:

Yeah it may also be that he didnt think she'd blow up and gave up rights, but like i said you really have to be dumb to do that regardless if you think it will sell or not, unless she bought him out. Ironically that is what happend with the band BERLIN, orignal guitarist John Crawford owned the name back in the early days, but then he allowed Teri Nunn to buy him out and move on without him.

sosgemini said:

Now don't get twisted. Gaga is still a talent on the keyboards. All I'm say is if it's in the album credits that Gaga & Rob wrote AND composed a few songs together, make no mistake about it, she has to be down for the FFT to get those extra lyrics AND those extra notes.

lastdecember said:

BTW, the late Michael Jackson was also co-owner of Gaga's publishings right. But did Michael buy out Gaga's or Rob's share?

That I would love to find out. Because maybe Rob might have a case that is worth more than $30 million.

If ANYBODY own the "Lady GaGa" image than Goldfrapp should be the one to get the royalties.

Wasn't he just interviewed by Billboard about her? I noticed the slight hints of shade he threw at her as well.

Update: Lady Gaga Responds To Lawsuit With Her Own Lawsuit

March 21, 2010

On Wednesday, producer and songwriter Rob Fusari filed a lawsuit in New York against two companies co-owned by Lady Gaga claiming breach of agreement and breach of fiduciary duty and asking for at least $5 million in damages. On Friday, Lady Gaga reportedly responded with a lawsuit of her own.

Fusari, in his suit, alleged that he had a romantic relationship with the singer that went sour and that he was instrumental in her early success, helping to come up with her stage name, among other things. Gaga’s suit reportedly claims that the contract she had with Fusari was “an unlawful arrangement,” and it calls his actions “predatory and financially abusive.”

A Lady Gaga spokesperson said that “We intend to let this play out in the courtroom, not the media.”

A lawyer for Fusari didn’t immediately return a request for comment. Fusari’s suit starts with a quote from “The Mourning Bride” by William Congreve: “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” The suit goes on to say “All business is personal.”


http://blogs.wsj.com/spea...o-lawsuit/

I was on Twitter a couple days ago and some fans were like "don't sue Gaga"... hmmm... least that's how it sounded.

ABeautifulOne said:

Shade?

If anything he made it seem like she wanted to be a different kind of artist then what she is.

midiscover said:

I didn't mean shade from that but the fact that she didn't work with him again on her second album is what he threw shade at.