British singer claims TaP Management executives failed to disclose ownership links that could have influenced major commercial decisions

LONDON: British singer Ellie Goulding has filed a lawsuit against her former managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millet of TaP Management, alleging they failed to disclose an ownership relationship between their management company’s parent and Live Nation.

According to Variety, Goulding alleges that Live Nation partially and later fully owned TaP’s parent company, HNOE, while Mawson and Millet represented her between 2018 and 2025.

The singer argues that the ownership structure created an actual or potential conflict of interest that could have influenced decisions involving her career and commercial arrangements.

According to the lawsuit, Mawson and Millet received a 20% commission under their management agreement with Goulding.

Singer Questions Commercial Agreements

During their management relationship, Goulding entered agreements with companies belonging to the Live Nation group covering touring, merchandise and a documentary project.

However, Goulding claims she did not know about Live Nation’s ownership interest in her management company when those agreements were negotiated.

Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the managers faced contractual restrictions preventing them from taking actions that could terminate, reduce or otherwise damage clients’ commercial relationships with Live Nation or affiliated businesses.

Goulding argues that such restrictions potentially conflicted with their responsibility to secure favourable terms for her.

Lawsuit Focuses on Managers’ Responsibilities

The singer further alleges that Mawson and Millet’s reported positions as Live Nation employees gave them a personal interest in transactions involving Goulding and businesses within the entertainment group.

Consequently, her legal action questions whether the managers could independently negotiate with promoters, merchandisers and other commercial partners while maintaining those corporate connections.

The case will examine whether the alleged ownership arrangements compromised the managers’ ability to act solely in Goulding’s interests.

However, the claims remain allegations presented in legal proceedings, and a court has not established them as fact.