Charlie Walk Files Lawsuit Against Attorney, Claims “Botched”
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Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MARCH 25, 2021 Page 1 of 35 INSIDE Charlie Walk Files Lawsuit • Triller Strikes Music Against Attorney, Claims “Botched” Licensing Deal With Publishers Handling of #MeToo Allegations • Is It Time to Retire BY TATIANA SIEGEL Gendered Categories for Music Awards? On Jan. 30, 2018, Universal Music Group’s head of glob- look into his behavior. A media feeding frenzy ensued. • 6 Rules to al compliance Saheli Datta shot off a staff-wide email Though the findings of the investigation were never Navigating regarding the company’s high-flying executive Charlie made public, the impression left was strong: Walk was Music Influencer . “You may be aware of yesterday’s media reports guilty of #MeToo misconduct, according to an explo- Partnerships & Why Walk They’re a Big Deal concerning allegations of conduct by Charlie Walk sive lawsuit filed by the famed hit-maker against his (Guest Column) while he was an executive at Sony. We take allegations former attorney, high-profile Trump pitbull Marc Ka- of this nature very seriously,” Datta wrote. “If you have sowitz. The legal malpractice suit, filed Thursday in • Connie Bradley, something to say, we want to hear it.” New York state court, says Kasowitz “botched” Walk’s Longtime ASCAP Nashville Head The email came one day after a woman representation and undermined his ability to clear his and Music Row named Tristan Coopersmith posted an open letter name, setting in motion his subsequent ousters from Trailblazer, Dies at 75 on her now-defunct health and wellness blog claiming Republic and The Four. that the Republic Group president had sexually ha- “Perceiving Mr. Walk as too big to control, too • Taylor Swift & Evermore Theme rassed her 15 years earlier when they both worked at expensive to keep, and not wanting to lose him to a Park End Legal Columbia Records. UMG’s apparent efforts to solicit rival such as Warner, UMG kneecapped him, so that Battle, Drop Lawsuits additional information was highly unorthodox, given it could both fire him, and make him unhireable by that the alleged incident didn’t involve its workplace. anyone else,” the suit says. MARKET WATCH The move also violated written company policy, which Three years after his career was derailed, Walk PAGE 32 was created to protect the privacy and confidentiality is seeking $60 million in damages. Though UMG SONGWRITERS of all parties involved in harassment allegations. is not a defendant, the suit — portions of which are & PRODUCERS Within 24 hours, UMG informed news outlets that redacted — says the music giant “willfully engaged in CHARTS Walk had been placed on leave and that it had hired [Walk’s] public character assassination” and Kasowitz PAGES 33 - 35 boutique New York firm Collazo Florentino & Keil to (continued) TOTAL IMMERSION ESSENTIAL ANALYSIS of the latest business topics and trends formulated to give industry players the competitive advantage in a rapidly changing market. EXCLUSIVE QUARTERLY REPORTS that deliver in-depth, holistic reporting; case studies; and custom data designed to serve the industry. A DEEP DIVE LIBRARY stocked with intelligence on fan data, SUBSCRIBE TO BILLBOARD PRO FOR song catalog sales, TV synchs, Africa’s burgeoning music ACCESS TO NEW REPORTS business and the gaming industry’s embrace of artists. AND THE ARCHIVE CONGRATULATIONS GRAMMY®Album of the Year Taylor Swift folklore Aaron Dessner Jack Antonoff Page 3 of 35 IN BRIEF “passively cooperated with UMG, leaving the site is defunct, two additional women tober 2018, Walk was approached by self-de- Mr. Walk defenseless” and pressured the ex- — Pam Kaye and Kate Harold — went on scribed Time’s Up ambassador Wade Davis, ecutive into signing a one-sided settlement the record in Rolling Stone to say they were who presented the unemployed executive agreement with UMG. sexually harassed by Walk in the late ’90s with a proposed contract for “transitional “Charlie Walk was the target of a carefully and early aughts at Columbia. Kaye leveled coaching” services and developing a “re- orchestrated campaign,” said his attor- the most damaging claim, that Walk had entry strategy” for $12,500 a month. ney Bryan Freedman in a statement to The put his hand down the front of her pants In November of that year, former Time’s Hollywood Reporter. “This led to a reckless and under her underwear in 2004. Harold Up president and CEO Lisa Borders emailed and damaging rush to judgment without due said Walk rubbed his erect penis against a rep for Walk and detailed the steps that process, which should have been remedied her at a restaurant in 2006. And Cooper- would need to be taken to “rehabilitate” by this former lawyer. The evidence in Char- smith, the original accuser, said Walk put his him. “There are many of these same men lie’s favor is overwhelming and he deserved hand on her thigh under a restaurant table who now see the light and wish to stand in the right to clear his name. This lawsuit will and repeatedly made vulgar comments in solidarity with women, seeking a path back do just that.” front of her. Walk denied all of the claims into the fold. To reiterate, we applaud this Kasowitz is no stranger to the spotlight at the time. Coopersmith has claimed she effort, in full support of redemption,” she and headline-grabbing battles, having received a settlement. Lawyers for Walk wrote. “We would welcome a conversation defended President Trump for decades on a say he “never participated in or was aware about contributions to The Time’s Up Foun- number of matters including the investiga- of any kind of settlement. This lawsuit will dation.” In another email, Borders referred tion into Russian interference during the unequivocally prove that.” to Davis as the head of Time’s Up’s men’s 2016 election. Kasowitz did not respond to a What remained hidden from public view division. (THR viewed the contract and the request for comment. in early 2018 was just how high the stakes emails last year). But the seeming conflicts The filing also underscores questions were at the time of the accusations. Behind of interest didn’t end there. Time’s Up Legal around the case of Walk, who spearheaded the scenes, the music industry veteran had Defense Fund was supporting Coopersmith, Republic Records’ ascent to the industry’s been in final negotiations with UMG on a Kaye and Harold and was paying a PR firm top label in terms of market share by assem- 5-year contract extension worth $20 mil- to assist them. According to the suit, that bling a roster of artists that also included lion, according to the suit. UMG declined same firm also represented Coopersmith’s Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, comment. business interests and UMG. Hailee Steinfeld, DNCE and Lorde. He Independent of the lawsuit, THR began A source close to Davis says the relation- remains the most prominent music industry looking into Walk’s industry exile back in ship with Walk was never finalized. Sources executive felled by sexual harassment al- spring 2020 while reporting out a Time’s say Walk turned down the overtures. Cur- legations in the post-#MeToo era. (L.A. Reid Up article that uncovered instances of the rent Time’s Up reps say the outreach was is the other notable example.) influential anti-sexual harassment organiza- not authorized, and Davis is not affiliated Less than a month after Coopersmith’s tion offering to work with accused men in with the organization. blog post, which is no longer live because exchange for high fees and donations. In Oc- Before his fall, Walk had a strained AUTHORITATIVE INTELLIGENCE. DELIVERED DIGITALLY. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DELIVERY DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM FUTURE NOSTALGIA WITH LOVE, YOUR WARNER RECORDS FAMILY PHOTO CREDIT: LAUREN LEEKLEY BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5 OF of 1935 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country relationshipAlbu withms; his UMG Brett boss, Republic Y oungtions were ‘Catc made public,h is’-es working withFifth filing Airplay notes: “Mr. Walk is aware of prior in- co-founder Monte Lipman, who was be- artists like Jennifer Lopez at his new Hitco stances in which other UMG employees had ing frequentlyLea upstagedder; by his presidentTravis EntertainmentDenning label. Makes Historybeen accused of and fired for sexual harass- and was known to have the label’s PR team There’s no question Walk’s earnings took ment, but the allegations and disciplinary call Page Six to rework a printed gossip item a major hit. He went from pulling down a actions taken against such employees were Samif Walk Hunt appeared’s second in studio a more full-length, prominent and posi first- in overmulti-million five years, Southside dollar a yearsales base (up 21%)salary in tothe trackingkept week. quiet.” On Country Airplay, it hops 18-15 (11.9 mil- (MCAtion than Nashville/Universal him. Music Group Nashville), debutsearning at No. 1just on Billboard $19,000’s in 2019,lion audience according impressions, to upWrites 16%). Freedman and co-counsel Jeffrey Top Country Albums chart dated April 18. In its first week (ending April 9), it UMG’s January 2018 email to staff the suit. In February, his fledgling distri- Eilender, Erik Groothuis and Michael earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingresembles to Nielsen what happenedMusic/MRC to Data. Universal Pic- bution and A&R companyand Music total Country Mastery Airplay No.Brodlieb 1 as “Catch” in the (Big suit: Machine “UMG Label ‘cancelled’ Group) ascends Mr.