CBD
US record label Camp West Recorders is suing Jade (pictured), Sebastian, Fremantle, Sony and Syco Entertainment, a joint venture between Sony and X Factor creator Simon Cowell, in California's Central District Court.
Camp West had Jade signed to recording and management deals and reckons it spent eight years and $2 million trying to turn her into a star. It's seeking 20 per cent of her earnings, alleging Fremantle, Syco, Sebastian and Sony all knew Jade was still under contract with Camp West when she won X Factor last year and signed a new deal with Sony.
Pointing to a clause in the X Factor rules that prohibits contestants participating if they know the judges, Camp West alleges that Sony, Fremantle and Syco "knew that Jade and Guy Sebastian knew each other and were friends".
"On information and belief, Jade's 'back story', as portrayed on X Factor Australia, was manipulated to garner sympathy and ratings," Camp West alleges.
Camp West claims the portrayal of Jade as someone who had been dropped by her US label was false.
It alleges Jade met Sebastian during a 2005 trip to Sweden "to work with a producer".
During a 2009 Australian trip promoting a single called Secret, Jade is alleged to have "met up with Guy Sebastian over the course of several days". And while she was staying in LA in 2010, Jade "would also meet with Guy Sebastian", Camp West alleges.
On Monday CBD rang Jade, who is fighting the lawsuit, for comment and was promptly handpassed to Sony PR maven Grant Donges. He's yet to call back.
Meanwhile, Fremantle is trying to get out of the case altogether. On Friday it asked the court to dismiss the case against it on the grounds that it has no presence in the US.
Kazakh listing
From pop to rock, and the dusty plains of Kazakhstan, where West Perth's finest mining explorer, Jupiter Energy, is seeking oil, gas and, as of Monday, cash.
The company plans to add the Kazakh Stock Exchange to its existing tickers on the ASX and London's AIM.
Jupiter told the market(s) it had "fulfilled the relevant conditions" to list on the Kazakh bourse.
And an interesting bourse it is, offering both a range of private stocks and the chance for the former Soviet republic's citizens to participate in "people's IPOs", which appear to involve the partial privatisation of state-owned enterprises. "In order to successfully participate in the Program it is very important to use all means available for the self-study of approaches to investing at the stock market and visiting of various events organised by participants of this program for the broad public," the Kazakh exchange says in a Borat-esque note on its website.
Jupiter chairman and CEO Geoff Gander said the listing "will make the company more accessible to the Kazakh investment community".
The Wild East is no doubt packed with untapped mineral resources but there are just 62 companies on the Kazakh exchange, for a total market cap of $US31.17 billion. The ASX's market cap is about $1.5 trillion.
On the other hand, Jupiter burnt through $6.3 million in cash in the three months to the end of June, leaving less than a quarter's worth of spending - $4.1 million - in the kitty. It would take only a couple of million bucks from the Kazakhs to close the gap.
Murky feedback
CBD loves reader feedback, and Bernard Bornstein's response to Monday's item on the jockeying for former Victorian premier Steve Bracks' gig as consul-general in New York is extra special - even if it's not clear what he's on about. "Shafted," he wrote, quoting back CBD's description of Bracks' fate. "Your reference to Steve Bracks is pathetic!"
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bbutler@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
US record label Camp West Recorders has sued Samantha Jade (and others) in California's Central District Court alleging breach of contract. Camp West says it had Jade on recording and management deals, spent about eight years and US$2 million developing her, and claims she was still under contract when she won X Factor and signed a new deal.
Camp West is suing Samantha Jade, Guy Sebastian, Fremantle Media, Sony Music and Syco Entertainment (the Sony/Simon Cowell joint venture). The suit alleges those parties knew about Jade's existing contract with Camp West when she competed on X Factor.
Camp West alleges that Jade was still under contract to Camp West when she appeared on and won X Factor, and that producers and the defendants ‘knew that Jade and Guy Sebastian knew each other and were friends.’ The claim also alleges Jade’s on‑show ‘back story’ was manipulated to garner sympathy and ratings.
Camp West is seeking 20 per cent of Samantha Jade’s earnings, saying it invested roughly US$2 million and spent eight years trying to develop her career.
According to the article, a request for comment to Samantha Jade was handed to Sony PR representative Grant Donges, who had not returned a call. Fremantle has asked the US court to dismiss the case against it on the grounds that it has no presence in the United States.
Camp West’s complaint alleges Jade met Guy Sebastian in 2005 in Sweden while working with a producer, met up with him several days during a 2009 Australian trip promoting a single called 'Secret,' and also met him while staying in Los Angeles in 2010.
Jupiter Energy plans to add the Kazakh Stock Exchange to its existing listings on the ASX and London’s AIM. Management says the listing will make the company more accessible to Kazakh investors. The Kazakh exchange also runs programs described as 'people's IPOs' and has a much smaller market cap and fewer listed companies than the ASX.
The article notes Jupiter Energy burned through US$6.3 million in the three months to the end of June and had about US$4.1 million of cash remaining, a little less than a quarter's worth of spending. The piece suggests the Kazakh listing could help raise the couple of million dollars needed to close the company’s shortfall.
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