Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Rita Ora
Rita Ora’s decision to sue Jay Z’s record label Roc Nation, saying she feels ‘orphaned’ by them, was allegedly sparked by her (rumoured) feud with Rihanna.
RiRi signed to Def Jam when Jay Z was president in 2005, and later moved to Roc Nation, which Rita was signed to in 2008.
Reports claim Rihanna used her dominance within the label to ‘ensure Rita’s career was not treated as a priority by Roc Nation’, and that she got the first pick of songs Rita could have used on a follow-up to her 2012 album.
These are reportedly key factors in Rita’s decision to file a lawsuit to try and end her contract with Roc Nation.
A source told The Sun: “Rihanna has never liked Rita and has been using her power at Roc Nation accordingly. This is the main reason the label’s execs have been uninterested in putting effort into promoting Rita.
“Songs that might be submitted to her are automatically given to Rihanna, who may then hold them for months before deciding she doesn’t want them.
“The fact that Rita’s ex Calvin Harris is on their management books hasn’t helped either. He is one of their highest earners and they did nothing to stop him when he blocked Rita from using songs that he had written on her album.”
Rita claims her 2008 agreement with Roc Nation violates California’s ‘seven-year rule’ – a code which says artists can not be contractually obliged to perform personal services more than seven years after the beginning of their deal.
The code was used in 1944 by actress Olivia De Haviland, who filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the complaint, made by attorney Howard King on Rita’s behalf, states: “When Rita signed, Roc Nation and its senior executives were very involved with her as an artist.
“As Roc Nation’s interests diversified, there were fewer resources available and the company suffered a revolving door of executives. Rita’s remaining supporters at the label left or moved on to other activities, to the point where she no longer had a relationship with anyone at the company.”
It also said: “Rita’s relationship with Roc Nation is irrevocably damaged.”
YAHOO NEWS