ICM Partners Drops Celine Dion As Client For Not Paying Commission

[Matias]

Maybe her team is a little lost or off somehow? I mean, let's face it, this news would NEVER have appeared while Rene was around (I think they are taking advantage of that) Rene was a seasoned bussiness guy and no one messed with him, but now her manager is a pretty much a PR team, maybe things got out of hand

Seeing Celine's name linked to this makes me say "What the actual F... is going on!!"

And that guy...after 30 years of working together and THIS is how you act? trying to trash Celine's name and therefore Rene's legacy? SHAME ON YOU...

[Davey84]

Interesting. I wonder what's the reason why they stopped in May 2018. Good tho they responded so quickly.

 

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G950F met Tapatalk

 

 

[DionFanAlways]

CELINE DION RESPONDS TO ICM PARTNERS CLAIMS AS REPORTED IN BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

February 15, 2019 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

 

Celine Dion’s management, CDA Productions (Las Vegas) Inc., is refuting the story that ran in Billboard on February 13, 2019, concerning a supposed ICM Partners’ internal memo. The article quotes the memo as stating that Ms. Dion refused to pay the commissions she owes to Rob Prinz and the agency from a touring deal that she signed in 2017. The article also states that ICM dropped Ms. Dion as a client as a result.

 

CDA has indicated that they have no choice but to respond to the untruths that were alleged in the ICM memo, to first and foremost protect the integrity of Ms. Dion who has been publicly harmed by these false statements. CDA reports that ICM and Mr. Prinz did not resign. Ms. Dion terminated them in writing on May 7, 2018. CDA also reports that Ms. Dion is not refusing to pay millions of dollars in commissions from the touring deal. Instead, even though there was no agency agreement in place, CDA made several multi-million dollar offers during the past year in attempt to arrive at a fair fee, all of which ICM and Mr. Prinz refused.

 

“I’m sad and disappointed by this false report that I’m refusing to pay ICM or Rob Prinz. I know that my team has made several very fair and generous offers to them and we really put a lot of effort in trying to work things out," said Celine Dion.

CDA Productions (Las Vegas) Inc. and Celine Dion have no further comments.

 

Via Céline's Facebook

Wow! She actually responded. You go girl, protect yourself and speak up!

[gafsa]

A change is gonna come 😆

[Katie]

1. 1995: The Phil Spector recording hysteria story
   
2. 1995/1996, a very unkown Quebec songwriter accuses JJ Goldman and Céline for plagiarism...pfffffffffff
   
3. 2002 at the release of A New Day has come a woman accuses René for sexual harrasment, a few monthslater, she was released to jail for parjury
   
4. At the end of 2009, early 2010's, some butler or some kind of her personnel accuses her for not paying hi..................Yeah sure dude.....The story end with a no issue
   
5. 2019 ICM something story
   

And please add, because I for sure forgot so many things (1991: The Fievel 2 song issue, 19923: The oscar issue with Céline's parents seats that Peabo has once talked about...)

 

I swear to God, this woman is a true gift for Human kind, people think because she is sweet that they can grab her millions easily

 

I am so glad that René secured things with trustful and faithful people around her, and I thank him dearly for having been there for her during those 35 years making her stronger daily to face things like that

 

Just to end up: I remember a story atlate 2007: at Taking chances era, she goes to a Drive in snack: opens the window and gives 500 US Dollars tips to the waiter, that he barely believed it...

 

Please make remember all what she had to face, Gosh, this world is rubbish...

[Nmj]

1. 1995: The Phil Spector recording hysteria story
   
2. 1995/1996, a very unkown Quebec songwriter accuses JJ Goldman and Céline for plagiarism...pfffffffffff
   
3. 2002 at the release of A New Day has come a woman accuses René for sexual harrasment, a few monthslater, she was released to jail for parjury
   
4. At the end of 2009, early 2010's, some butler or some kind of her personnel accuses her for not paying hi..................Yeah sure dude.....The story end with a no issue
   
5. 2019 ICM something story
   

And please add, because I for sure forgot so many things (1991: The Fievel 2 song issue, 19923: The oscar issue with Céline's parents seats that Peabo has once talked about...)

 

I swear to God, this woman is a true gift for Human kind, people think because she is sweet that they can grab her millions easily

 

I am so glad that René secured things with trustful and faithful people around her, and I thank him dearly for having been there for her during those 35 years making her stronger daily to face things like that

 

Just to end up: I remember a story atlate 2007: at Taking chances era, she goes to a Drive in snack: opens the window and gives 500 US Dollars tips to the waiter, that he barely believed it...

 

Please make remember all what she had to face, Gosh, this world is rubbish...

 

Also, the infamous story about the day René pulled into subway restaurant in Las Vegas, with Celine in the car waiting her apparently ordered two subs and left a 500 USD tip.

 

From everything I’ve gathered and heard; Rene especially was VERY generous with that stuff, I’m sure it rubbed off on Celine and even his kids for that matter.

Edited February 15, 2019 at 05:38 PM by Nmj

[québecflower]

So , now that we knoe more, it would be a good time to give an opinion.... Celine left them to start with a new company. I'm sure they give her great conditions , so she can quit the ancient agency and give them a fair amount to reach an agreement. But they don't want to. If she quits them , pretty sure this is because she has the right to. Rob will have to accept that. And it is not a good decision for them to make it public. they have made a lot of money with her, they should pursue other avenues.

[Loup_garou]

and ICM had a lot of time to leak the memo but not so much to remove her as their client on the company's website

 

same goes to billboard not a word yet on a follow up to the article

[maki_Dion-er]

How dare this guy try and tarnish her name like that. I'm glad they didn't stay quiet.

I guess civility only goes as long as he can profit off of her.

 

But please, this could have happened with Rene as well. As shown above, this isn't the first scandal of this nature Celine is pulled into. And Celine has always been generous on her own.

I'm sorry but it gets a little on my nerves how much people try to credit Rene with the person she is, it's as if she couldn't possibly just be like this because it's in her nature and her upbringing. Rene was a good man, no doubt about it, she probably did learn a few things from him as he most likely also did from her, but let's not diminish Celine in order to raise him up.

[CelineDionFreak]

Seems to be they’re just being petty. Especially since Celine terminated the relationship of May 2018 so there’s no way they can bring it forth now. I think they just wanted the attention and I’m glad Celine came forth!

[joaofilho]

I said in another post that they were wanting to take a few million from Celine, people are ambitious enough to want to explore others.

I do not know why she was forced to end this contract, maybe she was not happy with the tours and shows, I do not know, did not he try to take her to places where she was not, like some European countries, Spain, Portugal and even Latin America.

Celine ended the contract in May 2018, so which company ran its tour of Asia?

[ordinary fan]

I said in another post that they were wanting to take a few million from Celine, people are ambitious enough to want to explore others.

I do not know why she was forced to end this contract, maybe she was not happy with the tours and shows, I do not know, did not he try to take her to places where she was not, like some European countries, Spain, Portugal and even Latin America.

Celine ended the contract in May 2018, so which company ran its tour of Asia?

good question

[Matias]

they have made a lot of money with her, they should pursue other avenues.

 

You mean OUT of her

[québecflower]

You mean OUT of her

probably.... sorry.

[Shaun]

Celine herself has said that the most important thing Rene ever did for her was to surround her with the best people. People who had her best interests at heart and did all they could to help her succeed. I think we can all agree that there's no doubt at all that he achieved this.

 

On this issue though ICM and Rob Prinz should, frankly, be ashamed of themselves. Celine, it would appear, gave them notice of a termination in their agreement and instead of accept this and try to work things out they go to the media in the hopes of exploiting her and pressuring her into paying what would appear to be undue fees. Would they dare pull this crap with Rene?

 

Whilst I still feel Celine needs one singular management figure I am happy with the response on this matter.

Edited February 15, 2019 at 08:53 PM by Shaun

[Nmj]

Wow, I wasn’t aware that ROB PRINZ was one of the speakers at Renés “Celebration of Life”; he spoke so well of Rene and Celine; I’m sure there will be so much more behind this from both sides that happened; and we will never know.

 

I believe Celine’s statement, however something tells me there’s much more to this story.

[zuv]

Maybe we could change the title thread... Celine terminated them they didn’t drop her...

[scielle]

Wow. I didn't really expect a statement - I don't remember ever hearing anything like it from her or CDA. But I guess if they said nothing it would be a tacit acknowledgement. Still, interesting that she felt the need for a formal release to dispute what was still, technically, just a leak.

 

Well, now we've got the other side of this "he said, she said". As expected, clearly a difference of interpretation in the contractual terms / whether / when it was terminated and by whom, and what's owed as a result. Given the long-standing relationship with Rob Prinz, too bad it has to play out in public (and by the sounds of it, in the courts - Pollstar is reporting that "a source with knowledge of the situation indicated to Pollstar that legal action is in motion.") I hope it doesn't get too dirty... ICM sure can afford the best lawyers!

 

Perhaps Rob was feeling pressure from ICM, as bringing Celine with him was probably one of the major reasons ICM hired him in the first place, and now he lost a major client. And as already mentioned in the thread, perhaps the news of John Nelson (and Meglen?) now overseeing Celine's live performance business was the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Dion2000]

Well Celine will have to take legal action. Presumably ICM, along with Billboard and ET for slander / publishing of slanderous material... especially considering how big those companies are

[scielle]

Well Celine will have to take legal action. Presumably ICM, along with Billboard and ET for slander / publishing of slanderous material... especially considering how big those companies are

 

Huh? On what grounds?

 

All we know at this stage is her interpretation of the contract differs from ICM's. Only the parties involved have actually seen the contract in question and its termination provisions.

 

Anyway, here's Billboard's reporting on it today: https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8498697/celine-dion-responds-icm-partners-refused-to-pay-commission

[Dion2000]

 

 

Huh? On what grounds?

 

All we know at this stage is her interpretation of the contract differs from ICM's. Only the parties involved have actually seen the contract in question and its termination provisions.

 

Anyway, here's Billboard's reporting on it today: https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8498697/celine-dion-responds-icm-partners-refused-to-pay-commission

 

 

The magazines posted this supposed leak with a misleading title and without any statement from the other party or any actual evidence of this existing, making it as legitimate as a random “source” you see in tabloids. They can be sued for defamation/ slander

 

ICM could be sued (if celines is the truth) for leaking false information, slandering her name and trying to extort her by media pressure of creating false headlines AGAINST her, also sue-able

 

 

Not to mention that billboards article is still bulls***.... they added one tiny paraphrase of what celines team said, not listing any of the important stuff whilst still reiterating the points made by ICM in multiple paragraphs

Edited February 15, 2019 at 11:28 PM by Dion2000

[Xpresso]

They are just pissed that Celine left them and will miss out on millions of dollars in commissions for her future tours!

 

Prinz is a real scumbag... after all the money he has made thanks to Celine! I hope ICM fires his @ss!!

[scielle]

The magazines posted this supposed leak with a misleading title and without any statement from the other party or any actual evidence of this existing, making it as legitimate as a random "source" you see in tabloids. They can be sued for defamation/ slander

 

ICM could be sued (if celines is the truth) for leaking false information, slandering her name and trying to extort her by media pressure of creating false headlines AGAINST her, also sue-able

 

Not to mention that billboards article is still bulls***.... they added one tiny paraphrase of what celines team said, not listing any of the important stuff whilst still reiterating the points made by ICM in multiple paragraphs

 

That's not how it works.

 

Unless you've seen the contract in question, you can't conclusively say one way or the other.

Simply sending a letter may or may not be enough. Contracts like these have very extensive termination provisions and requirements, with very specific actions that need to be taken by the terminating party. So without reading the contract and understanding what exactly it stipulates, it's impossible to make any kind of conclusion.

 

(For instance, if you were trying to e.g. get out of a bank loan and repay it early, the termination provisions usually require you to not only repay the loan amount, but some contractually-defined prepayment penalty, because the bank would be missing out on the interest they were expecting to get. So, contractually, you'd have to make them whole. You can't just write a letter and say "here's your money back" and be done with it; that in itself would not constitute termination of the contractual relationship.)

 

There are usually a number of very specific termination requirements - there's good reason these things are hundreds of pages long.

If one party feels certain provisions have not been met, they have every right to legally dispute the other party's interpretation.

 

Billboard and THR are simply reporting based on the information available to them.

And a source does not need to be named for the reporting to be legitimate. If that were the case, investigative reporters wouldn't have jobs and e.g. Nixon would never have resigned.

Edited February 15, 2019 at 11:53 PM by scielle

[CSCfan]

Maybe we could change the title thread... Celine terminated them they didn't drop her...

 

Yes, but the thing is... If Céline did sign a $500 million deal in 2017, that deal would been for a X number of years (very much doubt it would be only for 1 year).

If she did terminate the deal only 1 year later, it would require for her to get out of the deal and she wouldn't be able to do this from her side only as both parties would have to agree to do it. And apparently ICM didn't accept the offers made by CDA, so this was bound to happen.....

 

Also interesting to note, is that the original statement by Céline's team has been changed, as it originally included this part:

Instead, even though there was no agency agreement in place, CDA made several multi-million dollar offers during the past year in attempt to arrive at a fair fee, all of which ICM and Mr. Prinz refused.

 

So was or wasn't there an agreement in 2017? We know she joined Prinz in 2015, possibly with the deal she currently had and they needed to negotiate a new one (the $500 million deal in 2017?)...

[Dion2000]

 

 

Yes, but the thing is... If Céline did sign a $500 million deal in 2017, that deal would been for a X number of years (very much doubt it would be only for 1 year).

If she did terminate the deal only 1 year later, it would require for her to get out of the deal and she wouldn't be able to do this from her side only as both parties would have to agree to do it. And apparently ICM didn't accept the offers made by CDA, so this was bound to happen.....

 

Also interesting to note, is that the original statement by Céline's team has been changed, as it originally included this part:

 

 

So was or wasn't there an agreement in 2017? We know she joined Prinz in 2015, possibly with the deal she currently had and they needed to negotiate a new one (the $500 million deal in 2017?)...

 

 

Yeah weird. So there was no binding contract part, she wasnt bound to stay for x years and yet when she left she still offered to pay them y amount of money...... and she wasn’t just leaving the contract either, she was dismissing them as her tour agents.... why take 9 months to start spreading this around in a deliberate attempt to tarnish her name

[maki_Dion-er]

Idk much about contracts and such but just the fact that ICM claims to have dropped Celine but CDA states they have a letter (proof with exact date) of when they expressed their intentions of terminating the deal (for whatever reason we don't know. Have they mentioned a contract?) leads me to believe Celine and team might be in the right.

 

With this move they intended to make Celine look bad. It was definitely a low blow and imo would come from people desperate to win the fight.

They have more to lose than Celine.

Edited February 16, 2019 at 12:01 AM by maki_Dion-er

[Dion2000]

 

 

That's not how it works.

 

Unless you've seen the contract in question, you can't conclusively say one way or the other.

Simply sending a letter may or may not be enough. Contracts like these have very extensive termination provisions and requirements, with very specific actions that need to be taken by the terminating party. So without reading the contract and understanding what exactly it stipulates, it's impossible to make any kind of conclusion.

 

(For instance, if you were trying to e.g. get out of a bank loan and repay it early, the termination provisions usually require you to not only repay the loan amount, but some contractually-defined prepayment penalty, because the bank would be missing out on the interest they were expecting to get. So, contractually, you'd have to make them whole. You can't just write a letter and say "here's your money back" and be done with it; that in itself would not constitute termination of the contractual relationship.)

 

There are usually a number of very specific termination requirements - there's good reason these things are hundreds of pages long.

If one party feels certain provisions have not been met, they have every right to legally dispute the other party's interpretation.

 

Billboard and THR are simply reporting based on the information available to them.

And a source does not need to be named for the reporting to be legitimate. If that were the case, investigative reporters wouldn't have jobs and e.g. Nixon would never have resigned.

 

 

and yet they dont even name a source.... they just said “oh we found this 100% legit document” very fishy

 

 

However the point still stands, ICM waited nearly 10 months AFTER she dismissed them and left their agency before “leaking” it... its clearly a deliberate attempt to slander her name and tarnish her reputation, being spiteful when she mentioned two AEG reps will be her new tour organisers... hence me calling it slander.

 

 

Contract or not, there will be a clause within it stating it isnt public information and lawyers will have drafted documents for both parties to sign, Almost like non disclosure agreements

 

What theyre doing is deliberate slander, whether Celine owes them money or she’s completely innocent, its still slander

[Dion2000]

Idk much about contracts and such but just the fact that ICM claims to have dropped Celine but CDA states they have a letter (proof with exact date) of when they expressed their intentions of terminating the deal (for whatever reason we don't know. Have they mentioned a contract?) leads me to believe Celine and team might be in the right.

 

With this move they intended to make Celine look bad. It was definitely a low blow and imo would come from people desperate to win the fight.

They have more to lose than Celine.

 

My exact point. Its obvious slander and the reason they said “CDA and Celine will make no further comment” is definitely because theyre taking legal action, due to that they probably wouldnt be allowed to discuss it further

[celinefanonline]

I said in another post that they were wanting to take a few million from Celine, people are ambitious enough to want to explore others.

I do not know why she was forced to end this contract, maybe she was not happy with the tours and shows, I do not know, did not he try to take her to places where she was not, like some European countries, Spain, Portugal and even Latin America.

Celine ended the contract in May 2018, so which company ran its tour of Asia?

 

AEG presents Concert West

[scielle]

and yet they dont even name a source.... they just said "oh we found this 100% legit document" very fishy

 

Contract or not, there will be a clause within it stating it isnt public information and lawyers will have drafted documents for both parties to sign, Almost like non disclosure agreements

 

Again. A source does not need to be named. See Deep Throat, among countless other examples.

 

And an internal memo disseminated to employees is unlikely to be subject to NDAs (but again, it's impossible to know without seeing the docs in question).

 

Idk much about contracts and such but just the fact that ICM claims to have dropped Celine but CDA states they have a letter (proof with exact date) of when they expressed their intentions of terminating the deal (for whatever reason we don't know. Have they mentioned a contract?) leads me to believe Celine and team might be in the right.

Without reading the contract, it's impossible to say whether a letter is sufficient to terminate the contractual relationship in this case.

 

So was or wasn't there an agreement in 2017? We know she joined Prinz in 2015, possibly with the deal she currently had and they needed to negotiate a new one (the $500 million deal in 2017?)...

 

2015?

She worked with Prinz for many years before that. When he moved over to ICM from UTA in 2016, he brought Celine with him.

They may very well have executed something new in 2017. Contracts get extended & amended all the time.

A general representation agreement may be very different and separate from a specific agreement executed for the purposes of, say, a specific tour or series of tours.

 

In any case, without seeing the agreement(s) in question, all any of us are doing is speculating.

Edited February 16, 2019 at 12:15 AM by scielle