Pop singer Ellie Goulding is suing her former managers Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, claiming a conflict of interest with corporate giant Live Nation may have left her out of pocket.
The 39-year-old artist alleges that Mawson and Millett failed to secure the most lucrative touring, merchandise and film deals available to her during their seven-year working relationship. According to the legal claim, the managers faced conflicting obligations that restricted their ability to recommend rival promotion and merchandising companies.
Mawson and Millett co-founded TaP Management, a prominent British artist management company, in 2010. They represented Goulding from 2018 until 2025, taking a 20 per cent commission on her earnings, according to the lawsuit.
Undisclosed corporate ties
During her time with TaP Management, Goulding signed agreements covering concert touring, merchandise sales and a documentary film with companies within the Live Nation group, one of the world's largest live entertainment and ticketing organizations.
However, Goulding claims she was never informed that TaP's parent company, HNOE, had initially become partially owned and later fully owned by Live Nation. The lawsuit asserts this hidden corporate relationship created a severe clash of interests.
Contractual restrictions and legal claims
The court claim alleges that Mawson and Millett were contractually "restrained" from engaging in 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."
It states that as employees of Live Nation, the managers "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."
According to trade publication Variety, the legal filing continues: "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 business with any company in the Live Nation group."
In law, music managers owe a fiduciary duty to act strictly in the best financial interests of their artists. Goulding's legal action requests unspecified "equitable compensation and/or damages for their breaches of fiduciary duty."
Other high-profile clients
TaP Management has represented several major international pop stars over the years, including Dua Lipa and Lana Del Rey.
Mawson is also understood to be currently representing Duffy as the Welsh singer prepares to return to the spotlight after more than ten years away from public life. In 2023, Mawson worked with Cruz Beckham, the youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham, though the pair later parted ways.
New management and upcoming album
Following her departure from TaP Management in 2025, Goulding returned to her former manager Sarah Stennett for management. She has also signed with WME, a leading global talent agency, for worldwide representation.
The legal action comes just weeks before Goulding releases her sixth studio album, titled I Know Too Much, on September 4.
