Ellie Goulding posing on a red carpet at a music industry event
Music

Ellie Goulding Sues Ex-Managers Over Hidden Live Nation Ownership Deal

The pop star claims her former management team hid massive corporate conflicts of interest tied to concert giant Live Nation.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 2 min read

Ellie Goulding is taking her former representation to court over alleged hidden corporate deals. The British hitmaker has launched a legal battle against her ex-managers, alleging that they secretly worked alongside live entertainment giant Live Nation while handling her career. The lawsuit targets industry veterans Ben Mawson and Ed Millet, who previously guided Goulding under their banner at TaP Management. According to reports detailing the suit, Goulding claims that the duo intentionally kept her in the dark regarding who actually owned her management firm's parent organization.

why is ellie goulding suing her former management team At the heart of the legal dispute is HNOE, the parent entity behind TaP Management. Goulding alleges that Live Nation initially secured a partial ownership stake in HNOE before eventually acquiring the entire corporate entity. Despite Live Nation taking total control, Goulding asserts that her management never revealed this massive financial tie to her. The chart-topping singer argues that this concealed corporate structure created a direct conflict of interest. Because Live Nation is a powerhouse in live touring and venue operations, having her managers tied to the company compromised their loyalty to her, the filing suggests. Goulding claims the arrangement was designed to line the pockets of her managers and the corporate titan at the expense of her own artistic and financial interests.

Ellie Goulding posing on a red carpet at a music industry event
Ellie Goulding posing on a red carpet at a music industry event

who are ben mawson and ed millet from tap management Ben Mawson and Ed Millet established TaP Management as a heavyweight force in pop music, managing several high-profile stars alongside Goulding over the years. However, this legal clash exposes growing friction between global pop stars and behind-the-scenes corporate consolidation in the music industry. Goulding claims that as her legal fiduciaries, Mawson and Millet owed her full transparency about their financial relationships. By allegedly failing to disclose Live Nation's ownership stake, the team deprived her of the ability to make informed decisions about her touring contracts and career direction. The lawsuit represents a major stand by the "Burn" hitmaker against corporate crossover in music management. Neither party has publicly settled the matter as legal proceedings move forward, bringing renewed scrutiny to how concert promoters control artist management firms behind closed doors.

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People also ask

Why is Ellie Goulding suing her former managers?
Ellie Goulding claims her ex-managers failed to reveal that live music giant Live Nation held partial and eventual full ownership of her management firm's parent company, creating a conflict of interest.
Who managed Ellie Goulding at TaP Management?
Ellie Goulding was managed by industry executives Ben Mawson and Ed Millet while represented by TaP Management.