Gloria Gaynor, known for the disco anthem “I Will Survive,” is suing one of her former producers.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Gaynor claims he is owed $2 million because former producer Joel Diamond and the companies he runs “failed to license or inform Plaintiffs about how their works were used, and abused their relationship to obtain economic benefits to which Plaintiffs were not entitled.”
According to the complaint, filed on July 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Gaynor alleges that Diamond falsely claimed ownership of several of her songs, including “I’ve Been Watching You,” “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “I Am What I Am.”
She claims that Diamond listed himself as a co-writer on at least one song.
Gloria Gaynor has filed a $2 million lawsuit against former producer Joel Diamond, alleging that he “unfairly exploited financially” from her work. (Valerie Ash/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Gaynor never wrote songs with Diamond, and to her knowledge, Diamond was not a lyricist,” the lawsuit states.
“Since the recording agreement was instituted, despite Gaynor’s repeated requests for an explanation, Defendants have never paid any royalties, have not been transparent about who Gaynor’s songs have been licensed to, or demonstrated any protection for Gaynor’s songs. Various amounts have been paid to Defendants, but Defendants have concealed and suppressed all payments to Gaynor.”
Joel Diamond told Fox News Digital in a statement: “The allegations are patently false. The contract is very clear and in effect for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of the rights. Any statement to the contrary is defamatory. I intend to pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent.” (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Diamond said, “I am in the process of hiring an attorney. The allegations are patently false. My contract is very clear and will last for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of my rights. Any statement to the contrary is defamatory and I intend to pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent of my rights.”
“Payments of various amounts have been made to the defendants, but the defendants have concealed and suppressed all payments to Mr Gaynor.
A representative for Gaynor did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Gaynor, along with lyricist Robyn Randall, are co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which alleges that Diamond “falsely claimed ownership of Robyn’s copyrighted material and entered into unfair and unauthorized licensing agreements.”
Randall also alleges that Diamond “wrongfully” induced her mother and songwriting collaborator, Judith Randall, to “transfer ownership of numerous copyrighted works.” At the time, Judith was “seriously ill and incompetent,” and was later committed to a psychiatric hospital where she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Judith Randall died in 2002.
“The allegations are patently false. Any statement to the contrary is defamatory and I will pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent of my rights.”
The complaint names Diamond and his companies, Joel Diamond Entertainment, Silver Blue Productions and Ocean Blue Music, as allegations of breach of contract, copyright infringement and fraud.
Gaynor’s complaint also includes claims of breach of contract, copyright infringement and fraud. (Brian Beder/Variety via Getty Images)
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Gaynor appeared on “The Masked Singer” in 2022, telling Fox News Digital at the time that it was “a lot of fun…running around in a hoodie and a mask and gloves was a lot of fun.”
She also reflected on her career-defining hit, “I Will Survive,” which was released nearly 50 years ago in 1978.
“It’s very encouraging to me. [recorded] “These are songs that stick in your memory and mean a lot to people, not just songs that you love, but songs that give you the strength to get through hard times in your life,” Gaynor told Fox News Digital about her hit “I Will Survive.” (Michael Putland/Getty Images)
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“It’s very encouraging to me. [recorded] “Songs that stick around and mean so much to people, not just songs that they love but songs that carry them through difficult times in their lives, that’s a wonderful thing,” Gaynor said.
