Disco-era icon sues former producer for $2 million
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Disco singer Gloria Gaynor, best known for the anthem “I Will Survive,” is suing her former producer for $2 million.
According to court documents, Gaynor says she’s owed that amount from Joel Diamond because he has licensed her copyrights for years without properly paying her, the New York Post said.
According to court documents, Gaynor says Diamond “utterly failed to live up to their obligations to keep Plaintiffs apprised of how their work was being licensed and used, while wrongfully exacting economic benefits they were not entitled to by exploiting that very relationship,” Fox News reported.
The suit also claims that Diamond falsely claimed ownership of several of Gaynor’s songs, including “I’ve Been Watching You,” “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “I Am What I Am.” It also says that Diamond claimed to be a co-writer on at least one of Gaynor’s songs.
“At no time did Gaynor write a song with Diamond. To her knowledge, Diamond has never been a songwriter,” the complaint says.
“Since the inception of the alleged recording agreement, despite Gaynor’s repeated requests for an accounting thereof, defendants have failed to pay any royalties, provide transparency as to who Gaynor’s music was licensed to or any demonstration that Gaynor’s music was protected,” the lawsuit also states. “Payments have been made to Defendants in various amounts, but Defendants have concealed and suppressed all payments to Gaynor.”
In a statement sent to Fox News, Diamond said that he is in the process of hiring a lawyer.
“The allegations are demonstrably false. The written contract is very clear and has been in place for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of the rights. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to exercise my legal rights to the fullest extent,” Diamond said.