In a court filing made public Friday, Lady Gaga alleges a lawsuit filed by ex-boyfriend/music producer Rob Fusari is only a cover to collect “unlawful compensation” for services as an unlicensed employment agent, according to a press report. Fusari’s lawyer, Robert S. Meloni, called the claim “ludicrous.”
Fusari, a song writer and music producer, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in New York City against Gaga. He claimed his former girlfriend, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, dropped his services as her career flourished. He alleged they co-wrote songs such as “Paparazzi” and “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” and that he came up with her stage name.
Read excerpts from the suit in Music Mix: Lady Gaga lawsuit reads like a ‘Behind the Music’ script
So he co-wrote a few songs and came up with a name and wants $30 million? Yeah that seems right. I doubt she has even come close to making that much herself.
actually, if u think about it- she’s probably made more than this amount. how much has actually wound up in her pocket is another story… but fans have easily poured out this much of their cash towards concerts etc. especially when u take into consideration that most of her fans are mostly young girls aged 8 – 22 and gay males. (no offense to either group just stating some obvious observations)
Well personnally I think he’s just trying to cash in now that she’s hit it big. Oh by the way I’m 58 married, 3 kids. I heard her music on the radio and liked it. My kids were surprised to say the least. Hey give the lady credit she’s got some talent.
No way. Lady Gaga is a new artist, she only gets about 7% royalty rate at best. She has sold millions of singles but when singles are only averaging .99 cents and the label gets much of it for promotion then she doesn’t make that much at all. Her payday mainly comes from touring and she isn’t even making that much because the production costs are insane.
I’m 59 and have followed Gaga since 2008. I couldn’t care less about music stars, but Gaga touched a chord. She has tremendous heart, brains and talent. It’s her out there in the videos, TV performances and concerts. Fusari got paid for his early contributions but I’ve read him quoted as saying that when she started doing burlesque with Lady Starlight, he lost interest. It wasn’t his thing. He’s just trying to capitalize on her extraordinary success. 20% of all her earnings forever? Get real, dude. Good thing Gaga’s got a tough involved father or Gaga might well have signed that “standard agreement.” But she didn’t. My prediction: he’ll either get very little (lawyers are expensive and can take 50% of a settlement) or nothing. One thing his lawsuit gets him is publicity, and as Gaga has proven, press attention is valuable. Maybe Fusari’s association with Gaga will help his career as it did RedOne’s.
She is a song writer too, but probably not making that kind of money yet. The touring, she will make more doing that. Funny law suit! He won’t get a dime….
Without documentary proof, it’s unlikely he’ll see much. Oh, and CaptainKit? Lawyers don’t get 50 percent. Their cut is usually capped at a third, or 40 percent if the case goes to trial.
Actually ‘nobodyimportant,’ I believe your observation is incorrect. I’m a 30 year old female and I’m a fan. My 45 year old cousin is a fan. My mother is a fan. I’m pretty sure you’d find she has more fans then you’re aware. I know plenty of guys who like her too.
I’m a 50 year old woman and loves Lady Gaga-my 16 year old daughter and her friends do NOT like her- not sure where you got your demographic info..
I’m 104 years old and I love gagagaga
Well, I am a gay male and Love Gaga – so u got that right…however, so does my 60 yo mother, my 32 yo sister, 30 yo brother in law and my 4 yo nephew – who adores her colorful costumes and wild stage shows he sees on TV.
You could not be more wrong about her fan base. The whole thing about Lady Gaga is this amazing appeal she has across demographics. I know a ton of 40-somethings who are interested in a pop singer for the first time in 20 years: Gaga. All clamoring for tix to her show. I know 30-somethings who worship at the church of Gaga. I think the way she evokes aspects of glitter rock pulls in old fans of that genre, who were music fans in the 60s and 70s.
I am in my mid 30′s and I think she is awesome! She is smart, and very savvy. I had the opportunity to see her perform at a small venue in Portland OR before she “blew up.” – Lady Gaga who?
I was in the 2nd row from stage and met afterwards during signings. Funny thing, I also met Lady Sovereign at the same place along with Young Love. They are all very cool people. She won’t have to worry about anymore small venues now.
You doubt she will make $30 million? Man, you have NO idea what mega-stars make these days… Lady aga is, if nothing else, very very very successful… whether you think she is talented or smart is beside the point… the Lady has made a splash and will be cashing in enough to buy and sell you 100 times over.
haha! You are so right. I doubt she really cares about being rich per se, but her commercial impact is undeniable and I am sure she is the last person to let someone take advantage of her. So she’s probably got a ton of cash in her businesses and at home. Enough to take care of her family and keep appropriate security for herself.
I’m more surprised that she hasn’t been sued by Madonna, David Bowie, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, The Village People and Queen (Radio Gaga) for expropriating just about every glam rock affectation from the last 30 years.
Shut Up
Just like they borrowed from those that came before them…
@bluecraze Get a life.
i agree to me i see her as a pop female david bowie. she um….borrows haha
holy no-one-understands-sarcasm batman. @bluecraze thumbs up.
Exactly, bluecraze. Though where some of those artists were original and had talent, LGG hides her lack of same behind lavish productions. Her true talent, much like the otherwise talentless Madonna, is in self-promotion.
Guys I think he was being sarcastic.
Actually, having heard/seen her play acoustic, I had to admit she is talented. And her self-promotion and pop culture mosaic style is more appropriate to Andy Warhol. Which is why I give the lady Her due. Saying she’s done nothing more than appropriate previous glam rock/pop acts is like saying B.B. King did nothing but appropriate the blues greats before him – i.e. that’s just nonsense.
Don’t forget Dale Bozzio.
And all the people you just mentioned owe Little Richard. Woooooo!!!
$35 million is 20% of her yearly income.
This girl is so dumb that I actually hope he wins the money
She’s not dumb he is i think it’s ridiculous
Jesus, how long you been gay?
She’s not a “girl”. She’s not a man, either – that jokes been old for a while.
Ok well @ ryan- She obviously makes that much money since she just sold out 3 madison square garden shows.
& @jesus Well obviously your vindictive just like him and obviously don’t care about stuff like that. You shouldn’t of have even commented on it
As you can tell I’m a HUGE Lady Gaga fan!
Nobody saw her being this big, not even her. She could flame out in 2 years….or end up dead from drugs….who knows….he didn’t see her being so big….but I’m in the “he” camp, because he did help create her and there was some kind of a contract. She will probably settled and be done with it.
From what it sounds like there was no contract. If that’s the case, he’s not entitled too anything…unless ofcourse he were too claim that she stole his songs. Though even then he gave her permission to use them…I’m gonna guess he gets nothing unless she settles.
Jesus, you’re so stupid that you should be crucified. Fusari is just another punk who’d rather file lawsuits than actually work for a living. If he’s such a great manager and songwriter, where’s his next client? His next song? I doubt that we’ll ever hear about them…or him, after this lawsuit goes away.
@TimW you are dumb, ignorant, and you should be crucified to save all of our souls from your stupidity!! i can tell you have no business sense at all, not to mention any knowledge of the law.
Let me break it down real simple for some of you. If you help someone create something, you are part owner of that creation. If that creation because successful you are owed part of the revenue it generates. plain and simple.
in music you should receive what is called ROYALTIES. i doubt that its close to 30 Mill, but probably more like 3-10 Mill. he should receive compensation for record sales, concerts, radio play and etc. Thats IF they find out he did actually help create those songs. He help create like 2 out of lets just say ten songs. thats 20% there, and he co wrote, so thats like 10% tops.
Lady GaGa is a dumb hoe, but her intelligence, or lack of, make no difference in the case. It might help in her popularity, but not in court. Just because you like or dislike someone doesnt matter in a court of law. Stick to facts, and rules of law.
All that matter in this case is IF HE HELP CREATE the songs or NOT. None of us can know whether he did or didnt from reading this article.
He did get royalties. He wants more. Read the original article.
She’s not a dumb hoe!
He’s a loser for trying to get money from her.
Why all of a sudden he decided now to want to sue her? Why because she’s famous and everyone is spending money to see her.
I think he’s just extremely money hungry.
First off if you would to read the article it would tell you right off the back that he trick her into signing illegal and unlawful paper work. So shut up. Secondly most of her money is spent for her concerts in which she really works hard for. Lady Gaga has talent don’t be jealous.
I LOVE LADY GAGA
Actually no, he is not entitled to any money unless he was listed as a co writer when the musical equivalent of a “patent” was filed. It is damn near impossible to prove you co-wrote a song with anyone, and the fact that he has waited this long to file his claims pretty much guarantees he will not win UNLESS he can prove that she was making money and being successful beyond his scope of perception (behind his back basically) and in this case, yeah, good luck making that argument.
YOU ARE RIGHT DON JUAN. STICK TO THE FACTS, REST IS HYPE AND MEDIA BLAH, BLAH.
@Donjuan – YOU are absolutely wrong. Authors and others get screwed ALL the time. Unless contracts are there they get NADA.
Hard to take your opinions seriously, Don Juan, when you tromp all over the language, state assumptions as fact, and have a limited understanding of creative rights and intellectual property laws. While I admit some of your points are approaching validity, the way in which you state them makes the whole vitriolic post seem like dribble.
Wow- as usual- name calling rares its ugly head… this country is so uncivil…what happened to being respectful and just agreeing to disagree- name callin really works to change peoples’ minds… yeah- right… NOT!
Why when someone makes it big there is always some piece of slime that wants the credit? Lady Gaga is the one doing all the work here maybe Fusari should try getting a real job and not free load off of her.
LOL! you even read her credits on her songs?? She didnt write half her stuff. What makes you think these songs are any different?? because she gets on stage and sings them?
stop being a groupie and stick to the point.
@donjuan HAVE YOU read the credits? on her albums it credits Stefani Germanotta/Lady Gaga for every song! she has either written them or co-written every single song.
@Allie yes i have and you are dumb. go and re read her credits or better yet I’ll copy/paste them here so you can read.
You can read right??
She has MANY people who have help co write songs with her. Or I should say write her songs…
If you want to know a secret about the music industry, there is a thing called writers. They write 90% of the song for the artists. Then the artists maybe changes a word or too. Or sometimes nothing at all, and slap there Co Writer credit on there, even though the other person really wrote the song.
No. Title Music Length
1. “Just Dance” (featuring Colby O’Donis) Lady Gaga, RedOne, Aliaune Thiam 4:04
2. “LoveGame” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:33
3. “Paparazzi” Lady Gaga, Rob Fusari 3:28
4. “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” Lady Gaga, Fusari 2:54
5. “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” Lady Gaga, Martin Kierszenbaum 2:56
6. “Poker Face” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:59
7. “The Fame” Lady Gaga, Kierszenbaum 3:44
8. “Money Honey” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Bilal Hajji 3:08
9. “Again Again” Lady Gaga 3:24
10. “Boys Boys Boys” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:22
11. “Brown Eyes” Lady Gaga, Fusari 4:05
12. “Summerboy” Lady Gaga, Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz 4:16
13. “I Like It Rough” (iTunes bonus track) Lady Gaga, Kierszenbaum 3:22
1. “Bad Romance” Lady Gaga, RedOne 4:55
2. “Alejandro” Lady Gaga, RedOne 4:34
3. “Monster” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Space Cowboy 4:09
4. “Speechless” Lady Gaga 4:30
5. “Dance in the Dark” Lady Gaga, Fernando Garibay 4:48
6. “Telephone” (featuring Beyoncé) Lady Gaga, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin, Beyoncé 3:40
7. “So Happy I Could Die” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Space Cowboy 3:55
8. “Teeth” Lady Gaga, Taja Riley 3:40
@Allie yes i have and you are dumb. go and re read her credits or better yet I’ll copy/paste them here so you can read.
You can read right??
She has MANY people who have help co write songs with her. Or I should say write her songs…
If you want to know a secret about the music industry, there is a thing called writers. They write 90% of the song for the artists. Then the artists maybe changes a word or too. Or sometimes nothing at all, and slap there Co Writer credit on there, even though the other person really wrote the song.
No. Title Music Length
1. “Just Dance” (featuring Colby O’Donis) Lady Gaga, RedOne, Aliaune Thiam 4:04
2. “LoveGame” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:33
3. “Paparazzi” Lady Gaga, Rob Fusari 3:28
4. “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” Lady Gaga, Fusari 2:54
5. “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” Lady Gaga, Martin Kierszenbaum 2:56
6. “Poker Face” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:59
7. “The Fame” Lady Gaga, Kierszenbaum 3:44
8. “Money Honey” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Bilal Hajji 3:08
9. “Again Again” Lady Gaga 3:24
10. “Boys Boys Boys” Lady Gaga, RedOne 3:22
11. “Brown Eyes” Lady Gaga, Fusari 4:05
12. “Summerboy” Lady Gaga, Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz 4:16
13. “I Like It Rough” (iTunes bonus track) Lady Gaga, Kierszenbaum 3:22
1. “Bad Romance” Lady Gaga, RedOne 4:55
2. “Alejandro” Lady Gaga, RedOne 4:34
3. “Monster” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Space Cowboy 4:09
4. “Speechless” Lady Gaga 4:30
5. “Dance in the Dark” Lady Gaga, Fernando Garibay 4:48
6. “Telephone” (featuring Beyoncé) Lady Gaga, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin, Beyoncé 3:40
7. “So Happy I Could Die” Lady Gaga, RedOne, Space Cowboy 3:55
8. “Teeth” Lady Gaga, Taja Riley 3:40
Lady Gaga/Stefani Germanotta’s name is first on every credit you listed. That means she was the primary writer. The record business, like the movie/TV business is collaborative and often producers “polish” an artist’s original creation. Watch the video of Rodney Jerkins and Gaga create Telephone:
Hard telling what’s really going on, but at first glance, it looks like a pretty clear case of a gold digging ex trying to capitalize on her success.
What she said …
Oh, I just remembered…I got something more fun to do…
Show me the contract. When you go into business with someone, you need to have a contract that spells out who does what and gets what. It’s not enough to say I helped you with this so give me $X. Especially when the numbers are so big.
You dont have to. A verbal contract is legal. But its smarter to have a contract, then the person cant come back and sue you like this, and you have no disagreements on what is supposed to happen. Thats why you should always get things on paper. Then it makes it harder for someone to change story or deals.
Right now the burden of proof is on the guy to show that he really help co write the songs and etc. Which will be really hard to prove unless he’s got some good evidence.
a verbal contract is not legal, you can promise anyone anything, it does not mean you are legally obligated to perform, you have the legal right to change your mind. I think you might be thinking of promise to pay or promise to perform when your actions signify intent such as when you own a store, and you say you will perform a service, or when you go into a store and say you will pay for a service. If your girlfriend says that when she gets rich, she will share her money with you, she has the legal right to change her mind, unless there is a legal binding written contract.
Verbal contracts are in no way legal and even if they were, how would anyone prove them? Unless you were smart enough to bring a voice recorder, there’s no proof. Simply taking someone for their word, ESPECIALLY in business, is the most moronic thing you can do.
wow the amount of stupid people is over whelming.
so my law classes, professors, and law books are wrong, and you dumb internet people are right. damn… lol! Verbal contracts are legal and try using a thing called “google” or a “dictionary” and looking up and educating yourself before you open your stupid mouths.
grow a brain please people. you shouldnt comment on things you have no idea about. no one cares what you “think” you know.
once again and classic point of sticking to facts, no opinions or ignorance.
try looking up laws or taking a law class.
@micheal sawyer “musical equivalent of a “patent”” thats called a COPYRIGHT ddduuuhhhh
@don juan – And I’m sure that your massiv elegal expertise also told you that a verbal contract is only enforcable when: 1) there are witnesses to the stipulations, or 2) the two parties agree to what was contained in the verbal agreement. Neither is the case here.
more education for all the stupid people on here with “there opinions” and not facts, yet once again.
Verbal contracts are legal, and will hold up in a court of law. I can name court cases, but I already know thats WAY over most of your heads.
Three Elements of a Verbal Contract
In order to be considered valid, a verbal contract must contain three elements: offer, acceptance, and consideration.
• Offer: The person making the offer in a verbal contract must communicate their intent to enter into a contract. A verbal contract is not considered valid if all parties do not agree to the terms of the offer. Also, verbal contracts are only valid for a specified period of time and not indefinitely.
• Acceptance: A verbal contract is not valid until the offer is accepted. The acceptance of a verbal contract occurs when the person to whom the contract is offered voluntarily indicates agreement to its terms and conditions.
• Consideration: In addition to an offer and acceptance, verbal contracts must contain consideration. This means that each side must give the other something of value for the agreement to be binding. In most verbal contracts, this is an exchange of money, such as a down payment. However, in some cases, it is not money but a promise that is exchanged.
OK Don Juan you just copied and pasted her song credits in her defence. But did you actually read them. Check out songs 3, 4, and 11. It says Fusari. That is who is taking her to court Rob Fusari.
So your statement “Right now the burden of proof is on the guy to show that he really help co write the songs and etc. Which will be really hard to prove unless he’s got some good evidence.” makes no sense.
go back to school Don Juan, or at least re read what you abviously copied and pasted from some website. Do you really think that a verbal contract is a blanket agreement, forever valid and subject to interpretation by the person who would benefit the most?
LOL. Oh, Don Juan, you do yourself more of a disservice than anyone else could. Enjoy your new clothes, Your Imperial Highness. I hear the “A Little Knowledge” label is designing quite a Spring collection. I’m sure you’ll look marvelous.
There was a contract, Gaga’s countersuit admits that, they are saying that the contract was an attempt to hide illegal payments to the Fusari… Since he has received over $500K so far from Gaga, there seems to be some validity to his claim. Also, he does not appear to be a gold digger or jilted lover. More like jilted business partner.
Rob needs to be a man and earn money for himself. If a judge hears this case, then it opens the door for all ex employees to do the same thing. He’d an idiot and wants a free ride.
It doesn’t matter if he helped write one song or 20 songs. It doesn’t matter if he has worked with other artists. There are lots of One-Hit-Wonders out there. He is still owed something for his work. I doubt it’s 30 million. Think about this, before American Idol, did you know whom Simon Cowell was? I bet you you didn’t, he just had his name as a producer credit in the fine print. That is all Fusari should get and a small portion of the royalties.
CZ, he already gets paid royalties. He wants more.
Everything will get settled in court and I’m interested in seeing what happens. I know people love to bash her and I might have been in that category if I hadn’t been given her cds as gifts. I love them. Every song is great, I actually like the ones that haven’t come out yet. I’m not saying don’t bash her but if you’ve only heard the songs they play on the radio, you’re missing out and you might change your mind.
What a slieze. What a parasite. I wonder if he knows Jessie James or John Edwards? Same club.
I agree a lot with what don juan is saying. Verbal agreements are legal, but hard to prove in court. I bet that Fusari was in love and he felt he didn’t need to have a written contract with his lover (think pre-nup). When things turn sour, that’s when you slap yourself and go ‘oh crap’ I should have gotten that in writing. A few years ago Britney Spears was caught up in the songwriter scandal. The songwriter was smart and used the ‘poor mans copyright’ – you mail yourself a copy of the document, sealed with a stamp from the post office BEFORE you start shopping it around.
just because she is getting successful now hw wants money, yeah right as if he have imput, she was gaga before she was massive as she is now
The lawsuit is ridiculous. He’s upset that she decided to move on, and now he wants a piece of the pie. If he has any talent, whatsoever, for writing songs, he’ll have his own millions, down the road. Another BS lawsuit weighing down our legal system.
@Don Juan, to add to what u say ’bout verbal contract which is true, there is another key element which one must always ensure when doing verbal contract: witness. Always ensure that at least two or more persons know ’bout the deal this will seal it. Like in this L. Gaga-Fusari case, the guy would better have some witness otherwise he will likely lose and don’t be surprise to see Gaga fire back filing for a compensation for prejudice against her person.