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Ellie Goulding Sues Former Managers Over Undisclosed Live Nation Ties

The complaint alleges undisclosed Live Nation ownership and contractual restraints steered her toward Live Nation affiliates and may have cost her better commercial terms.

Overview

  • Goulding filed the lawsuit on Monday accusing former managers Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, TaP Management and parent HNOE of failing to disclose that Live Nation bought a 50.1% stake in HNOE in 2015 and completed full ownership in 2019.
  • The complaint says the managers regularly pushed Goulding to use Live Nation-group companies for touring, merchandise and a documentary while being contractually restrained from encouraging clients to reduce business with Live Nation affiliates.
  • Goulding says Mawson and Millett managed her from 2018 through 2025, took a 20% commission, and that she signed the contested Live Nation-related deals during that period before parting ways with TaP in December 2025.
  • Live Nation is not named as a defendant in the suit and reports say TaP principals and Live Nation have not yet issued substantive public responses to the filing.
  • The case spotlights concerns about vertical integration in live music and could prompt closer scrutiny of disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules in artist management while Goulding prepares to release a new album on September 4.