In a rare challenge to a vast entertainment conglomerate, singer-songwriter George Michael has filed a freedom-seeking lawsuit against Sony Music that could set a new music industry precedent.
“This suit has massive implications,” said Dick Leahy, Michael’s London- based music publisher and adviser. “He’s the biggest artist ever to bring an action of this nature against a major record company.”
Contending that his career has been mishandled by Japan’s Sony Corp., and his artistic needs ignored in favor of disposable pop starlets, Michael filed the suit in the British High Courts on Oct. 30 seeking extrication from his long term contract.
He has reportedly told Sony executives that no matter the outcome of the suit, he will never record for the label again and accepts the possibility that such a decision may prevent him from making another album until 2003.
In a written statement released Wednesday, Michael said: “… Since the Sony Corporation bought my contract, along with everything and everyone else at CBS Records, I have seen the great American music company that I proudly signed to as a teen-ager, become a small part of the production line for a giant electronics corporation, who, quite frankly, have no understanding of the creative process. With CBS, I felt that I was believed in as a long-term artist, whereas Sony appears to see artists as little more than software.”
Within the industry, Michael’s quest has been likened to a pro athlete’s bid for free agency. Michael sees his situation, and that of other artists, as similar to Hollywood’s Golden Era, when the major studios “owned” top talent.
“It’s the case the industry has been waiting for …,” said entertainment attorney John Kennedy in an interview with the Bitish publication Music Week. Kennedy is not affiliated with this case.
“It’s a very courageous move for such a successful artist to make,” said Mike Pagnotta, Michael’s American media adviser. “It goes to show that principle still for counts for something.”
In a telephone interview from London, Leahy said the suit should not be mistaken as a bid for publicity. Nor should it be seen as an attempt by Michael to jump on the renegotiation bandwagon in pursuit of the kind of multimillion dollar, multimedia contracts recently won by Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Janet Jackson, Motley Crue, The Rolling Stones and others.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with money,” Leahy said. “George isn’t seeking funds. He is seeking his artistic freedom.
“And how could it possibly be for publicity? The amount of effort and waste of time and creative energy that goes into fighting a case like this takes it far outside the realm of a PR stunt.”
Citing restraint of trade, the 31-page lawsuit says the singer’s contract gives the record company all the authority — leaving Michael virtually powerless over his career.
Of course, that’s the industry standard in most cases, something Michael might have been willing to accept had he not become so disenchanted with the record label’s new owner.
In a prepared statement, Sony Music said it has a “clear and unwavering commitment to George Michael.
“Together our relationship has been mutually fruitful. Our contract with George is valid and legally binding.
“We are saddened and surprised by the action George has taken. There is a serious moral as well as legal commitment attached to any contract and we will not only honor it, but vigorously defend it.”
Michael first rose to fame as half of the enormously successful British pop duo Wham! He and friend Andrew Ridgely scored with a clean-cut heartthrob look and catchy tunes such as Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Everything She Wants, The Edge of Heaven and Careless Whisper.
In 1986, Michael spun off on his own, with CBS retaining a right to keep him. Hits such as A Different Corner, I Want Your Sex, Faith and Father Figure propelled him to stadium status during a 1988 concert tour. He capped that triumph in February 1989 by winning the industry’s most coveted prize — Grammy’s Album of the Year for his recording of Faith, besting Tracy Chapman, Sting, Bobby McFerrin and Steve Winwood.
Regrouping from that pinnacle, Michael recast himself as a reluctant celebrity, telling Sony he would rather concentrate on songwriting and charitable deeds. To that end, he said he did not want his own image to be part of his music videos for his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. He never did record Listen Without Prejudice Vol. II, as he intended.
Since 1984, Michael has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He recently had a No. 1 hit with Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (a duet with Elton John) and a Top 10 hit with Too Funky, from the recent AIDS charity disc Red, Hot & Dance.
