Guy Sebastian alleges ex-manager diverted royalty payments
Guy Sebastian’s legal team have sought to amend his Federal Court case against former manager Titus Day after allegedly discovering overseas royalty payments went missing.
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Exclusive: Guy Sebastian’s legal team have sought to amend his Federal Court case against former manager Titus Day after allegedly discovering overseas royalty payments went missing in January, more than two years after they acrimoniously ended their 12-year business relationship.
In an application filed with the court on Wednesday afternoon to amend his case, the chart-topping singer and Voice coach has taken steps to include a new claim Day diverted the income to an unknown account.
“Guy is seeking to amend his Federal Court claim against Mr Day to allege, among other things, misappropriation of Mr Sebastian’s money,” a statement from the singer’s representatives revealed.
His legal team allege an overseas royalty collection agency sought to deposit the income in an account operated by Day’s former management company 6 Degrees in January.
“I haven’t seen or received any amended application or affidavit so I can’t comment on that yet,” Day said in response.
“However, Guy owes me hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid commissions so any money I am holding of his will be determined by the court. That is what the entire case is about.”
The management company went into liquidation last July as the pair’s legal action continued, with both parties alleging they are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by each other.
Sebastian has refuted Day’s assertion and said he was “owed nothing” as the liquidators of 6 Degrees have discontinued all cross claims for unpaid commissions.
Sebastian has enjoyed some global success since his single Battle Scars hit the charts and airwaves worldwide in 2012, with recent singles Before I Go and Choir receiving airplay and streams overseas, thus earning international royalties.
The artist versus his former manager’s case was scheduled to be heard over three days in the Federal Court in June before Justice Tom Thawley but the date has been vacated due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
“Mr Sebastian is otherwise claiming Mr Day is personally liable to repay funds withheld by 6 Degrees prior to its liquidation due to Mr Day’s involvement in the relevant actions of 6 Degrees,” the statement continued.
Sebastian is seeking $200,000 in performance and other fees.
Day alleged, in mid-2018, his management company 6 Degrees was owed hundreds of thousands of dollars, estimated at around $800,000, by the singer, his wife and their charity the Sebastian Foundation.
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In an affidavit filed with the court last October, Day and his wife claimed they had not been paid for work on his music videos, television appearances and assisting to establish the charity.
Both the artist and manager have dug their heels in on pursuing the case, which was lodged in mid 2018, after several attempts at mediation failed.
Day and his wife Courtney have set up a new agency called Media Talent Management with several clients including 2019 The Voice winner Diana Rouvas, Christine Anu and Damien Leith.
Sebastian views the action as “an opportunity for an established artist to demonstrate the care artists must take in receiving representation and the potential pitfalls of the system”.
He is now represented by Private Idaho management, whose director Jennifer Fontaine also steers the business affairs of Human Nature and Sebastian’s stylist wife Jules.
Originally published as Guy Sebastian alleges ex-manager diverted royalty payments