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Music Industry Lawsuits
In the music business, legal conflicts frequently include musicians suing or being sued. This article focuses on Wiz Khalifa’s participation in a number of lawsuits, including Rostrum Records and his previous manager, Benjy Grinberg.
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Legal Issues with Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa has recently become involved in a number of legal disputes. He sued Rostrum Records and his previous manager, Benjy Grinberg, earlier this year. Additionally, following an incident on their concert tour, Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg became the target of a lawsuit from fans. A less well-known lawsuit brought by musician Yury Merman against Wiz Khalifa in New York City, however, turns out to be an intriguing case.
The Claim of Yury Merman
An artist from New York City named Yury Merman claims Wiz Khalifa owes him money for copyright violations. Merman asserts that Wiz unlawfully sampled his tune for the song “iSay,” which features Juicy J, from the “KHALIFA” album.
Yury Merman’s History
Yury Merman is a producer and musician with a portfolio of musical compositions and copyrights, thus he is not a newcomer to the music business.
The Process of Making the Sample
Merman purchased a distinctive French song from the Apple Store in September 2011. Then, using distortion and manipulation, he produced a distinctive melody for his song “La Plafond.” He kept working on the tune, getting help from ID Labs, and working with audio engineer Big Jerm there.
Relationship with Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa frequently visits ID Labs, where he reportedly came into contact with the altered sample without Merman’s knowledge. According to reports, ID Labs, Big Jerm, and E Dan requested the sample for Wiz Khalifa to utilize in his song “iSay.”
Invalid Use and Insufficient Credits
Wiz Khalifa, according to Merman, obtained the sample from ID Labs and utilized it in “iSay” without asking for permission from Merman or giving due credit. Merman was not informed of the sample’s origins.
Resolution Efforts
A text message exchange shows that Merman contacted Big Jerm in October 2015 to make his copyright claims. Merman’s ownership of the song was recognized by Big Jerm. Merman claims that he has not been compensated for the unlawful use of his sample, nevertheless. However, the defendants have not cooperated with his written demands.
Merman was not aware of the sample’s utilization by Wiz Khalifa because ID Labs took care of it behind his back.
In his lawsuit alleging copyright infringement against Wiz Khalifa, Yury Merman is seeking unspecified damages.
Industry Reaction
The Wiz Khalifa-related companies Taylor Gang Entertainment and Atlantic Records were unable to be reached for comment.
Background: Benjy Grinberg’s Relationship with Wiz Khalifa
The well-known rapper Wiz Khalifa parted ways with his previous manager Benjy Grinberg in 2014. Wiz realized that not everyone in the music business has an artist’s best interests at heart, which led to this breakup. This choice was a turning point for Wiz and led him to file a lawsuit against his old management and try to get out of the 360 contracts they had made. The 360 arrangement came with the stipulation that Wiz would contribute a portion of his earnings in order to pay for this additional help, but it was meant to give Wiz support in a number of areas outside the purview of a standard contract.
Knowledge about the 360 Deal
A 360 deal is a special kind of contract between a label and an artist that goes beyond standard production and distribution agreements for music. In such a partnership, the label consents to help the artist in a variety of capacities, including songwriting, touring, and merchandising. The artist consents to pay the label a percentage of their revenue in return for the extra services rendered. With this agreement, the label is able to share in the artist’s numerous revenue sources.
Grievances of Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa was solely represented by them when he originally inked the 360 agreement with his label, Rostrum. However, Wiz’s dissatisfaction developed when he realized the arrangement he had signed was not as transparent as he had thought. He believed that his manager, Benjy Grinberg, had committed him to a contract that exercised significant control over practically every area of his professional life without disclosing additional prospective agreements. According to the lawsuit, Grinberg’s refusal to reveal potential replacement agreements that could have been more in line with Wiz’s interests is at the heart of Wiz’s principal grievance.
Defending Wiz Khalifa in Court
Alex Weingarten, Wiz Khalifa’s attorney, emphasizes the crucial function that a personal manager performs in an artist’s career. He emphasizes that a manager should serve as the artist’s most dependable counsel. Benjy Grinberg, the manager in this instance, made the decision to pursue business strategies that were inimical to Wiz’s best interests. According to Weingarten, these behaviors are what caused Wiz and his manager to lose faith in one another.
Demands and Charges
In his legal action, Wiz Khalifa is requesting a sizable settlement. In addition to attorney expenses, he is seeking punitive damages totaling over $1 million. These requests are predicated on Wiz’s career and reputation being harmed as a result of Benjy Grinberg’s claimed poor management and lack of transparency.
Response from Benjy Grinberg
In response to the lawsuit, Benjy Grinberg expresses shock and dismay at Wiz Khalifa’s choice to cut relations and file a lawsuit against him. Benjy Grinberg argues that the claim is inaccurate and justifies his activities. He emphasizes that he and his crew had been behind Wiz since the beginning of his career and paints his actions as a regretful turn of events.
Benjy Grinberg, a Major Figure in Independent Hip-Hop
In the indie hip-hop movement, Benjy Grinberg and his label, Rostrum Records, have been very influential. Benjy Grinberg has worked with musicians including Mod Sun, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, and DC the Don to introduce Pittsburgh’s distinctive sound to the mainstream music scene.
The Tragic Death of Mac Miller
The premature death of Mac Miller, a musician who had been involved with Rostrum Records, was one of the significant events that had an influence on Grinberg’s career. Grinberg was significantly impacted by Mac Miller’s unintentional drug overdose in September 2018. He struggled to restart his profession after the tragedy and instead focused on finding methods to honor Miller’s memory.
History and influences
Grinberg was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and he has always loved rap music. He was raised in the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill and discovered his love for rap music while traveling to Israel as a young boy. At the age of 11, he went to a DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince performance, which cemented his passion for the genre. Grinberg was inspired to work in the music industry by his lifelong exposure to a variety of cultural events.
Career Advancement
Benjy Grinberg entered the music business after finishing his degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He was employed at the live-streaming firm Digital Club Network before joining Arista Records, where he was overseen by A&R executive L.A. Reid. In the end, he established Rostrum Records in Pittsburgh with the goal of promoting and supporting talented artists.
Results for Rostrum Records
When Wiz Khalifa’s album “Rolling Papers” became popular in 2011, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, Rostrum Records received a lot of attention. Khalifa was signed by Grinberg while he was just a youngster, and Grinberg was essential to developing his career. Furthermore, Mac Miller’s record “Blue Slide Park” increased the label’s reputation and proved the value of Grinberg’s Pittsburgh talent promotion method.
Legal actions
On August 1, a Los Angeles judge set a hearing for Wiz Khalifa’s initial complaint against Rostrum Records. The result of this hearing can shed further light on the legal issue and the processes that will follow.
Getting Over Tragedy
Benjy Grinberg was profoundly saddened by the untimely deaths of rapper Jimmy Wopo and Mac Miller in 2018. After Miller’s demise, he found it difficult to return to work and to deal with the loss. He went back to his normal routine, but he was aware of the long-term effects of Miller’s absence.
Rostrum’s Objections
Rostrum Records and Grinberg argue in their cross-complaint that Khalifa owes them money in unpaid debts, and they state their intention to refute what they believe to be false allegations. They emphasize their commitment to fostering the success of their artists and indicate a wish to quickly fix the issue.
Philanthropic Activities
Benjy Grinberg has established himself as a renowned philanthropist in the Pittsburgh area. He backed groups including the Boys and Girls Club and the Jewish Community Centre of Squirrel Hill. Due to its proximity to his family, the 2018 Tree of Life shootings had a personal impact on him, which prompted him to get involved in community efforts.
Future Prospects
Looking forward, it is anticipated that Benjy Grinberg and Rostrum Records will continue to have a significant impact on the rap and hip-hop communities both locally in Pittsburgh and internationally. Grinberg’s dedication to producing records and helping musicians is consistent with his motivation and goal in the business.
Conclusion
The difficulty that occurred in artist-label relationships in the music business is shown by the legal dispute between Wiz Khalifa and Rostrum Records. Both cases allege financial mismanagement, breach of contract, and unpaid debts. The outcome of the lawsuit will be decided by the court processes, which will take place when both sides submit their arguments.
