MUSIC icon Gloria Gaynor has sued her former producer, Joel Diamond, for exploiting copyrights of multiple songs. Gaynor , renowned for the timeless 1970s hit I Will Survive , is currently seeking $2 million in damages from Diamond. The 80-year-old disco star has alleged that Diamond exploited her copyrights for years without adequate compensation.
According to Gaynor's lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court, Diamond has falsely claimed ownership of eight of her songs based on a 1983 record deal. In court papers, Gaynor claimed Diamond registered himself as a co-author “of at least one song." “At no time did Gaynor write a song with Diamond.
To her knowledge, Diamond has never been a songwriter," the papers stated, according to the New York Post . Read More on Celeb Lawsuits “Since the inception of the alleged recording agreement, despite Gaynor’s repeated requests for an accounting thereof, defendants have failed to pay any royalties, provide transparency as to who Gaynor’s music was licensed to or any demonstration that Gaynor’s music was protected,” Gaynor stated in the litigation. SETTING IT STRAIGHT Gaynor is seeking money allegedly owed from Diamond alongside her co-plaintiff, Robin Randall, who has separate issues with the producer.
The two are also looking for the court to terminate their contracts with Diamond. “Gloria Gaynor and Robin Randall are prominent examples of the exploitation and abuse suffered by legacy music artists at the hands of industry insiders and record companies,” their attorney, Vivian R. Drohan, told the abovementioned outlet.
Most read in Celebrity “We fully expect to obtain justice for our clients.” Diamond has denied the allegations made in the lawsuit, calling them "demonstrably false." “The written contact is very clear and has been in place for 40 years," the producer said.
"Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of the rights. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to exercise my legal rights to the fullest extent," he added. HIT TURNED DOCUMENTARY I Will Survive, the tune Gaynor has become most recognized for, became the singer's first and only chart-topping hit.
Earlier this year, the disco singer released her documentary, Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive. The film delves into the heartbreaking meaning behind the song's lyrics, which Gaynor truly realized during the lowest moments of her life. The documentary premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and played in select theaters for one day only on February 13.
Weeks before, Gaynor stopped by the Kelly Clarkson Show to promote the film, showing off her ageless beauty in a long black overcoat. Her bronze hair was styled in perfect curls and her smooth skin radiated, leading many fans to rave over her appearance on Instagram. Read More on The US Sun "You are so beautiful, dear Gloria," one person commented on the singer's post from that day.
"You are the most powerful and gorgeous queen of music I ever seen," another said..
