The woman who discovered Lady Gaga has won a $7.3 million (Dh26.8 million) lawsuit concerning her role in the singer’s early career.
A US federal court found that Rob Fusari, Gaga’s former business partner, broke a 2005 agreement to compensate Wendy Starland if she brought him an “edgy and bold” future star.
Starland told the music magazine Billboard: “Fusari asked me to find an artist under the age of 25 who could be the female equivalent to the lead singer of the Strokes... I had attended about 50 live performances and searched for countless hours online before finding an artist who fit the bill.”
She saw Gaga perform at New York’s Cutting Room, then took her by bus to meet Fusari in New Jersey. “I only brought Rob Fusari one artist for us to work with — and that artist became Lady Gaga.” Fusari went on to reshape the career of Lady Gaga, or Stefani Germanotta as she was known then. They co-wrote three songs that later appeared on Gaga’s debut album, including the international hit Paparazzi.
But Fusari allegedly wanted to renege on his promise to give Starland a hefty share of his profits. Fusari and Gaga parted ways in 2010, after he and his company reportedly made more than $10 million through their work together. That year he filed a $30.5 million lawsuit against the singer, claiming that she had denied him royalties.
After a four-year court battle, a jury in Newark, New Jersey, ruled on November 17 that Starland was entitled to 50 per cent of everything Fusari has received, or will receive, from his collaborations with Lady Gaga. Fusari must also give Starland a one-off payment of $900,000.
“It’s incredibly validating,” Starland said. “I’m now placing a focus on my [own] singing career and am excited to share my new music and sound with the world.”
Gaga herself had supported Starland’s claim. “My understanding was that Wendy and [Fusari] had initially agreed upon 50/50 perhaps before Wendy ever found me,” she said in a deposition in September. “Rob told me [that] himself. Wendy told me herself. They both spoke of the deal... in front of me.”
Recently, Gaga has been promoting her fourth original studio album, a collection of jazz duets with Tony Bennett. But she has also continued with the final dates of her Artpop world tour. The closing concert will be live streamed from Paris on November 24.
