ICM Partners Drops Celine Dion As Client For Not Paying Commission

[jepoi]

I don't think appealing the case or asking for a new trial is a good idea. This will drag her down in the long run. If Rene was still alive, he would not approve of this to drag on i'm pretty sure, especially considering the circumstamces surrounding the case.

 

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[Xpresso]

If she is appealing the decision, I would think that's because her lawyers think there's a chance... or because they might have new evidence. It's worth the try as she pays those lawyers anyway!

[Del]

Very interesting stuff. . . looks like Celine is no longer following Rene's guidance on never saying anything negative about anyone else . . .

 

Does anyone know where we can read the actual Labor Commission decision? It seems like whoever wrote the Billboard article had seen the actual decision. I found this website with California Labor Commission Talent Agency Decisions: https://www.dir.ca.g...tacs.htm - but it hasn't been updated since 2019.

I see this as different than his advice. She is defending herself and I expect her to do that. To me her statement was how disappointed she was in re ruling etc. She didn't come out and attack anyone.

 

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

 

[jpatdeleon09]

Any updates? It’s like it never happened.

[scielle]

Apparently they’ve reached a settlement. No terms disclosed.

 

https://mynewsla.com/life/2021/03/15/celine-dion-13-million-win-over-ex-concert-agent-in-labor-commission-settlement/

 

“Lawyers for the 52-year-old singer and Labor Commission attorney David L. Gurley informed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin C. Brazile that the case involving the ex-concert agent, Rob Prinz, was resolved. No terms were divulged.”

 

 

 

[Del]

Apparently theyve reached a settlement. No terms disclosed.

 

https://mynewsla.com/life/2021/03/15/celine-dion-13-million-win-over-ex-concert-agent-in-labor-commission-settlement/

 

Lawyers for the 52-year-old singer and Labor Commission attorney David L. Gurley informed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin C. Brazile that the case involving the ex-concert agent, Rob Prinz, was resolved. No terms were divulged.

Happy to hear an agreement has been reached. They can now all move on from this.

 

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

 

[Xpresso]

Maybe Rob felt guilty after Celine's comments when she said she felt betrayed... It would be interesting to know the details.

Maybe they met somewhere in the middle, ie. $6.5 M instead of $13M.

[Shamrock_1982]

I bet knowing Celine she just gave him what he wanted to get this over and done with... move on, lesson learned, a few less pairs of shoes this month lol.

[PuraVida]

Maybe Celine was in LA for the proceedings and that's why she was hanging around with Miley lol

[smw]

It must be incredibly difficult for Celine to wrap her brain around the business side of the music industry.

And for her to know who she can trust.

 

It makes sense that there have been some hiccups regarding Celine's image / career since Rene died.

It also makes sense that all she wants to do is get out on stage because that's where she feels in control vs worrying about promo / album sales / releasing rare materials / etc. It must be very daunting.

I hope it gets better and better.

 

Who is her core team right now?

I hope she feels like she can trust these people.

And I hope she is able to get some good advice on how to proceed with managing her music and image beyond just the concerts.

[smw]

Also... it seems like Aldo was doing a good job in 2016.

Encore un soir was handled well, right?

Certainly compared to how the promo for Courage was handled.

 

And 2016 was the last time Celine was all over the place on TV in the United States.

Aldo's only misstep, from my point of view, was releasing that not-so-great version of The Show Must Go On as a single.

 

As I've mentioned before, I just think that Celine was over the old school way of going about her career...

And she didn't want to be bossed around like that anymore.

She honored Rene's wish... and gave Aldo a shot.

It just didn't work out for her.

[PuraVida]

Also... it seems like Aldo was doing a good job in 2016.

Encore un soir was handled well, right?

Certainly compared to how the promo for Courage was handled.

 

And 2016 was the last time Celine was all over the place on TV in the United States.

Aldo's only misstep, from my point of view, was releasing that not-so-great version of The Show Must Go On as a single.

 

As I've mentioned before, I just think that Celine was over the old school way of going about her career...

And she didn't want to be bossed around like that anymore.

She honored Rene's wish... and gave Aldo a shot.

It just didn't work out for her.

 

I think any boss would've had a hard time immediately after Rene's death...even if they were talented.

 

And OMG that horrible version of TSMGO....sigh.

[CelinesDIVO5]

Maybe Celine was in LA for the proceedings and that's why she was hanging around with Miley lol

 

What?

[PuraVida]

What?

 

Miley Cyrus tagged Celine in a recent Instagram post caption. I was saying maybe there would be some validity to that tag if Celine was in LA area for her court case.

[CelinesDIVO5]

 

 

Miley Cyrus tagged Celine in a recent Instagram post caption. I was saying maybe there would be some validity to that tag if Celine was in LA area for her court case.

 

Pretty sure Miley was just joking.

[PuraVida]

Pretty sure Miley was just joking.

 

And I was just joking as well. But I don't think it's outside of the realm of possibility that if Celine was in LA for filming her movie and/or the court case, they could hang out.

[Céline RO]

And I was just joking as well. But I don't think it's outside of the realm of possibility that if Celine was in LA for filming her movie and/or the court case, they could hang out.

 

I think it’s unlikely they would hang out even if they were in the same building but, of course, nothing’s impossible.

[PuraVida]

I think it’s unlikely they would hang out even if they were in the same building but, of course, nothing’s impossible.

 

Could be a collaboration, business lunch, a quick invite or hang. I could definitely see Celinaissance Celine hanging with a younger crowd and hanging with other musicians more. Miley Cyrus has revealed she is a fan with her posting Celine and Barbra duet to her Instagram before, so that's why I didn't see it as a wild farout fantasy. Surprising, but possible.

 

Still, obviously I think it's way more likely that they were not together lol

[scielle]

Does anyone know where we can read the actual Labor Commission decision? It seems like whoever wrote the Billboard article had seen the actual decision. I found this website with California Labor Commission Talent Agency Decisions: https://www.dir.ca.g...tacs.htm - but it hasn't been updated since 2019.

 

Well, I just came across it while looking for something else.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/TAC/20201113%20TAC-52673%20ICM%20Partners%20v.%20Dion%20et%20al._Determination%20of%20Controversy%20%20(redacted).pdf

 

Fascinating read. We find out more about the inner workings of Team Celine than I think we ever have, really.

 

Among other things, we get confirmation that Aldo was indeed fired (and further confirmation, since so many on here keep asking, that Dave & Denis have been her co-managers since).

Also, plenty in here that confirms Rene really did a lot with "handshake agreements", which is worrying, as this whole saga might be just one of many such issues Celine may have to face in the future. Let us hope that is not the case!

We learn that AEG and Live Nation were both bidding for Celine at the time Aldo & Prinz were negotiating the Omnibus deal.

 

Unfortunately, and as expected, a lot of the juicy details are redacted (like the actual commission fees, for the most part), and the likes of -

 

"Agreement provides that in exchange for payments of at least [redacted], Dion agreed to perform in Las Vegas and on global tours from 2017 to [redacted] , and to give AEG the exclusive right to promote her shows."

"Specifically, the Omnibus Agreement obligates AEG to pay Dion [redacted] per Las Vegas residency performance for [redacted] such performances in Las Vegas during the [redacted] term. Thus, the total expected minimum guarantee for the Las Vegas residency performances is [redacted]." ... and so on.

 

Interestingly, " Further, the Omnibus Agreement provides that if there are not enough Las Vegas performances to total the [redacted] target payment to Dion, AEG will schedule additional world tour dates in order to reach that figure." - so in short, the less Vegas shows, the more she tours. [...] "If she does not earn out the entire amount by the end of the term of the Omnibus Agreement, Dion is required to return any unearned portion." - this is a pretty standard term, but still... she's got to hustle!

 

Lots of good stuff in here for music business & law junkies, and I won't go quoting it all, but here some other interesting bits -

 

"Young explained that Dion wanted to do luxury brands, commercials, movies, television, and that she would pay [Prinz] a higher percentage to procure these new opportunities." - though of course she fired him since, as a result of this commission dispute.

 

"The legal issue is not obscured by a performing [redacted] engagement attached to a [redacted] price tag. The unusual terms of this superstar’s contract does not change the legal analysis. Dion’s mega contract is derived not only from her enormous talents but also from the contributions of her team in the negotiation of the contract. And Prinz was an integral member of Dion’s inner circle for more than 30 years, a valued member of the team and a contributor to the procurement of the Omnibus Agreement."

 

"Moreover, we conclude Platel backed out of any attempt to renegotiate a new deal against his friend, asking Young to conduct the renegotiations, because he was uncomfortable carrying out the order on his good friend. And even though Platel testified on Dion’s behalf as her manager, it was clear the loss of Prinz to the Dion team over a monetary dispute was a heavy burden for Platel to endure. This was evident in Platel’s emotional testimony and supports our finding that Platel’s efforts to undo the Omnibus deal with the Paris Memo is unpersuasive."

 

All in all, it's just sad to see a fruitful, 30-year working (and clearly close personal) relationship come to an end in such an ugly, public manner. I hope whatever the settlement was at least smoothed this over on a personal level for all involved, in some way.

Edited September 28, 2021 at 03:35 AM by scielle

[Chantemoi]

 

 

Well, I just came across it while looking for something else.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/TAC/20201113%20TAC-52673%20ICM%20Partners%20v.%20Dion%20et%20al._Determination%20of%20Controversy%20%20(redacted).pdf

 

Fascinating read. We find out more about the inner workings of Team Celine than I think we ever have, really.

 

Among other things, we get confirmation that Aldo was indeed fired (and further confirmation, since so many on here keep asking, that Dave & Denis have been her co-managers since).

Also, plenty in here that confirms Rene really did a lot with "handshake agreements", which is worrying, as this whole saga might be just one of many such issues Celine may have to face in the future. Let us hope that is not the case!

We learn that AEG and Live Nation were both bidding for Celine at the time Aldo & Prinz were negotiating the Omnibus deal.

 

Unfortunately, and as expected, a lot of the juicy details are redacted (like the actual commission fees, for the most part), and the likes of -

 

"Agreement provides that in exchange for payments of at least [redacted], Dion agreed to perform in Las Vegas and on global tours from 2017 to [redacted] , and to give AEG the exclusive right to promote her shows."

"Specifically, the Omnibus Agreement obligates AEG to pay Dion [redacted] per Las Vegas residency performance for [redacted] such performances in Las Vegas during the [redacted] term. Thus, the total expected minimum guarantee for the Las Vegas residency performances is [redacted]." ... and so on.

 

Interestingly, " Further, the Omnibus Agreement provides that if there are not enough Las Vegas performances to total the [redacted] target payment to Dion, AEG will schedule additional world tour dates in order to reach that figure." - so in short, the less Vegas shows, the more she tours. [...] "If she does not earn out the entire amount by the end of the term of the Omnibus Agreement, Dion is required to return any unearned portion." - this is a pretty standard term, but still... she's got to hustle!

 

Lots of good stuff in here for music business & law junkies, and I won't go quoting it all, but here some other interesting bits -

 

"Young explained that Dion wanted to do luxury brands, commercials, movies, television, and that she would pay [Prinz] a higher percentage to procure these new opportunities." - though of course she fired him since, as a result of this commission dispute.

 

"The legal issue is not obscured by a performing [redacted] engagement attached to a [redacted] price tag. The unusual terms of this superstar’s contract does not change the legal analysis. Dion’s mega contract is derived not only from her enormous talents but also from the contributions of her team in the negotiation of the contract. And Prinz was an integral member of Dion’s inner circle for more than 30 years, a valued member of the team and a contributor to the procurement of the Omnibus Agreement."

 

"Moreover, we conclude Platel backed out of any attempt to renegotiate a new deal against his friend, asking Young to conduct the renegotiations, because he was uncomfortable carrying out the order on his good friend. And even though Platel testified on Dion’s behalf as her manager, it was clear the loss of Prinz to the Dion team over a monetary dispute was a heavy burden for Platel to endure. This was evident in Platel’s emotional testimony and supports our finding that Platel’s efforts to undo the Omnibus deal with the Paris Memo is unpersuasive."

 

All in all, it's just sad to see a fruitful, 30-year working (and clearly close personal) relationship come to an end in such an ugly, public manner. I hope whatever the settlement was at least smoothed this over on a personal level for all involved, in some way.

 

This is all so fascinating. I love reading this much, much more than reading some fluff piece of about her in the media. 🤓

 

I’d also love to see this kind of detail about Aldo’s contract(s) with Céline as her manager, but I assume they settled out of court…

 

Scielle, this isn’t directed at you per se. I’m just curious if anyone at all has insight on this topic. I heard through the grapevine that a source from Team Celine *confirmed* that Aldo had negotiated a deal with Netflix to release some of her concerts, and I assume that that was the reason for the shelved content from 2011-2017 —including the cancelled 2017 DVD—upon his termination in Spring 2017. I guess my question is whether there *might* be a clause in Aldo’s contract (though none of us could possibly know) entitling him to a cut from the deal, and whether that deal would still be valid after Céline fired him. And either way, why bother filming the 2019 Vegas shows if not to release them?

Edited September 28, 2021 at 05:19 AM by Chantemoi

[PuraVida]

Leave it to a court case to open the books that Celine claims are already "open" lol

 

 

Edit: Clearly Prinz wasn't very much procuring television or movie opporutunities because, well, Celine will only have been in one movie by the time Text For You comes out in like 2022/2023.

Edited September 28, 2021 at 05:26 AM by PuraVida

[Chantemoi]

Leave it to a court case to open the books that Celine claims are already "open" lol

 

Her personal life is a far cry from her business dealings, but I think what you mean is a lot of light is being shed from the latter to the former. I would honestly rather read a book about this over her personal life lol

[PuraVida]

Her personal life is a far cry from her business dealings, but I think what you mean is a lot of light is being shed from the latter to the former. I would honestly rather read a book about this over her personal life lol

 

You're very right, I was just making a joke. Along the lines of, it would take a court order to get Celine to actually tweet about new music she has out

 

I just thought it's funny that a court case actually gives us the level of detail and clarity on certain details that we have wanted for a long time in other areas of her life. I am curious if people feel Celine calling herself an "open book" is justified?

[DionFanAlways]

Interesting read. I love this behind the scene stuff. I wonder if the Courage world tour was set up because of this deal because she missed the shows due to Rene's illness and death? Could it be why they don't just cancel the tour? All you legal experts please let me know.

[CelineDionFreak]

I find the part about how they were planning to set up a residency once “Celine” at Caesar’s ended, and how they said at Caesar’s or wherever is interesting. It would’ve been interesting to see if she went with live nation, but I’m not surprised she stayed with AEG.

 

Thanks for sharing! This is really interesting.

[chocolatechip15]

Well, I just came across it while looking for something else.

https://www.dir.ca.g... (redacted).pdf

 

Fascinating read. We find out more about the inner workings of Team Celine than I think we ever have, really.

 

Among other things, we get confirmation that Aldo was indeed fired (and further confirmation, since so many on here keep asking, that Dave & Denis have been her co-managers since).

Also, plenty in here that confirms Rene really did a lot with "handshake agreements", which is worrying, as this whole saga might be just one of many such issues Celine may have to face in the future. Let us hope that is not the case!

We learn that AEG and Live Nation were both bidding for Celine at the time Aldo & Prinz were negotiating the Omnibus deal.

 

Unfortunately, and as expected, a lot of the juicy details are redacted (like the actual commission fees, for the most part), and the likes of -

 

"Agreement provides that in exchange for payments of at least [redacted], Dion agreed to perform in Las Vegas and on global tours from 2017 to [redacted] , and to give AEG the exclusive right to promote her shows."

"Specifically, the Omnibus Agreement obligates AEG to pay Dion [redacted] per Las Vegas residency performance for [redacted] such performances in Las Vegas during the [redacted] term. Thus, the total expected minimum guarantee for the Las Vegas residency performances is [redacted]." ... and so on.

 

Interestingly, " Further, the Omnibus Agreement provides that if there are not enough Las Vegas performances to total the [redacted] target payment to Dion, AEG will schedule additional world tour dates in order to reach that figure." - so in short, the less Vegas shows, the more she tours. [...] "If she does not earn out the entire amount by the end of the term of the Omnibus Agreement, Dion is required to return any unearned portion." - this is a pretty standard term, but still... she's got to hustle!

 

Lots of good stuff in here for music business & law junkies, and I won't go quoting it all, but here some other interesting bits -

 

"Young explained that Dion wanted to do luxury brands, commercials, movies, television, and that she would pay [Prinz] a higher percentage to procure these new opportunities." - though of course she fired him since, as a result of this commission dispute.

 

"The legal issue is not obscured by a performing [redacted] engagement attached to a [redacted] price tag. The unusual terms of this superstar’s contract does not change the legal analysis. Dion’s mega contract is derived not only from her enormous talents but also from the contributions of her team in the negotiation of the contract. And Prinz was an integral member of Dion’s inner circle for more than 30 years, a valued member of the team and a contributor to the procurement of the Omnibus Agreement."

 

"Moreover, we conclude Platel backed out of any attempt to renegotiate a new deal against his friend, asking Young to conduct the renegotiations, because he was uncomfortable carrying out the order on his good friend. And even though Platel testified on Dion’s behalf as her manager, it was clear the loss of Prinz to the Dion team over a monetary dispute was a heavy burden for Platel to endure. This was evident in Platel’s emotional testimony and supports our finding that Platel’s efforts to undo the Omnibus deal with the Paris Memo is unpersuasive."

 

All in all, it's just sad to see a fruitful, 30-year working (and clearly close personal) relationship come to an end in such an ugly, public manner. I hope whatever the settlement was at least smoothed this over on a personal level for all involved, in some way.

 

Thanks Scielle! Definitely a fascinating read! And i agree that it is really sad that their relationship ended like this. I think of the lovely speech that Rob gave at Rene's celebration of life. . . so sad.

[scielle]

 

Thanks Scielle! Definitely a fascinating read! And i agree that it is really sad that their relationship ended like this. I think of the lovely speech that Rob gave at Rene's celebration of life. . . so sad.

 

I wonder if the settlement mended fences at all. She needs someone like him in her camp, if she wants to branch out and do other things. But, he’s no longer ICM’s Head of Worldwide Concerts, as of Feb, which tells me not (seldom do people get demoted if they bring in the big clients…) But then ICM was just acquired by CAA yesterday so who knows who’ll still be there once the dust settles!

It’ll be interesting to see the new tour book / program, and who gets agent credit.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2021 at 02:33 AM by scielle

[Nmj]

 

 

I wonder if the settlement mended fences at all. She needs someone like him in her camp, if she wants to branch out and do other things. But, he’s no longer ICM’s Head of Worldwide Concerts, as of Feb, which tells me not (seldom do people get demoted if they bring in the big clients…) But then ICM was just acquired by CAA yesterday so who knows who’ll still be there once the dust settles!

It’ll be interesting to see the new tour book / program, and who gets agent credit.

 

My guess is Dave Platel is doing other jobs, and may be her “acting” agent. May also explain why Celine has been extra shielded during the Covid era.

[scielle]

My guess is Dave Platel is doing other jobs, and may be her “acting” agent. May also explain why Celine has been extra shielded during the Covid era.

Dave is no agent. He’s a music marketer circa wearily 90s.

There’s a reason pretty much all talent agents start in the mailroom. It takes decades of building a network to actually bring any value in that world.

[Nmj]

 

Dave is no agent. He’s a music marketer circa wearily 90s.

There’s a reason pretty much all talent agents start in the mailroom. It takes decades of building a network to actually bring any value in that world.

 

I understand that, however the sarcasm I meant in the post… is that she doesn’t seem to have a agent. Her career seems to be like a family owned restaurant where the owner is also the chef, janitor, and bartender.