Ellie Goulding, a singer from the United Kingdom, has filed a legal claim against her former managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millett of TaP Management, alleging they did not disclose that TaP’s parent company, HNOE, was partly and then fully owned by Live Nation, creating a conflict of interest in her touring, merchandise and documentary agreements.
The claim states that Mawson and Millett managed Goulding from 2018 through 2025 on a 20% commission. During that period, she signed agreements with Live Nation companies covering touring, merchandise and a documentary film.
Goulding says she was unaware that Live Nation owned her management company. The claim says her managers were contractually “restrained” from any activity that might “terminate or otherwise reduce or diminish [their management clients’] business relationship in any respect with the Company [Live Nation] or any of its affiliates.”
Conflict of interest claims
As employees of Live Nation, Mawson and Millett “had a personal interest or duty in dealings between Ms. Goulding and companies in the Live Nation group which was in actual or potential conflict with the interests of Ms. Goulding in securing the best commercial terms with whichever promoter, merchandiser or other counterparty it was most advantageous for her to deal with,” the claim states.
“Mr. Mawson and Mr. Millett were subject to contractual obligations not to encourage any artist under their management to cease to do business with or reduce the extent of her or business with any company in the Live Nation group,” the claim continues.
The suit seeks unspecified “equitable compensation and/or damages for their breaches of fiduciary duty,” along with other related entitlements. Representatives for Mawson and Millett did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Live Nation ownership timeline
- 2015: Live Nation acquired 50.1% of HNOE.
- 2019: Live Nation fully acquired HNOE.
The claim states that since 2015 Live Nation has exercised “direct or indirect control of HNOE and has (through its subsidiaries) received dividends as ultimate controlling shareholder of HNOE.” After the full acquisition, Mawson was named HNOE’s CEO, while he and Millett report “directly to an individual designated by Live Nation’s chief executive officer.”
Current representation and new album
Goulding has returned to Sarah Stennett for management and WME for worldwide representation. She is set to release her sixth studio album, “I Know Too Much,” on September 4.
