The Break-up: Artist/Manager Edition
Artists and managers have always relied on each other for mutual success. But as with any relationship, managing an entertainment career is a delicate balance of give and take. As Diddy reportedly found out this week with news that Nicki Minaj was dumping him as her manager, terminated management contracts are all too common once a star (or a star's spouse) starts to glimpse greener grass elsewhere. We took a look back at some of the most high profile artist/manager break-ups in recent memory and asked whether the splits made dollars and/or sense.
1 / 10
Alicia KeysManager: Jeff RobinsonBreak-up Year: 2010 - Alicia gave longtime manager Jeff Robinson his walking papers in 2010 after years of being charged a 25 percent commission or higher. Fiance Swizz Beatz reportedly encouraged Keys to take more control of her own career. Verdict: Alicia may have needed the hard-charging Robinson in her Songs in A Minor days, but the "Superwoman" has long been capable of standing on her own two.(Photo: Walik Goshorn/Retna)
2 / 10
UsherManager: Jonetta Patton (mother)Break-up Year: 2007 - Reportedly pressured by then fiancé Tameka Foster, Usher fired his mom and longtime manager, Jonetta Patton, in 2007. The R&B star rehired mama after separating from Foster in 2008, but then reportedly gave her the boot again a year later once he settled down with a new lady, Grace Miguel, who took on co-managing duties. Apparently Usher only has room for one woman in his life at a time. Verdict: If the middling Raymond vs. Raymond is any indication, Usher needs some stability in his life. (Photo: Devan/INFGoff.com)
3 / 10
TLCManager: Perri "Pebbles" ReidBreak-up Year: 1995 - Managed by Perri "Pebbles" Reid, the former spouse of music mogul L.A. Reid, from their inception, TLC split from Pebbles in 1995 amid charges of gross financial mismanagement. The trio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy despite the runaway success of their sophomore album, CrazySexyCool, claiming that due to exorbitant fees, they were only making about $35,000 per year. Verdict: T-Boz, Left-Eye and Chilli weren't too proud to sue for a better management contract and enjoyed the success they deserved with 1999's FanMail. (Photo, from left: REUTERS/Mike Segar, Hal Horowitz/PictureGroup)
4 / 10
Janet JacksonManager: Joe JacksonBreak-up Year: 1985 - After two forgettable albums at the start of her solo career, Janet broke out from under the controlling influence of her father, Joe Jackson, in a move that clearly declared her independence both as a musician and young woman. The liberation was fuel for her 1986 breakout album, Control, which was one of the most successful albums of the decade. Verdict: Taking control was the best decision she ever made. (Photo: Chris Weeks/Liaison/Getty Images)
5 / 10
CiaraManager: Philana WilliamsBreak-up Year: 2008 - Keeping mum about the specific circumstances, Ciara ditched longtime manager Philana Williams to sign with Johnny Wright, who had previously worked with NSync, The Backstreet Boys and Janet Jackson. Things got ugly after the split, with Williams allegedly leaking details of Ci-Ci’s personal life to bloggers. Verdict: Her new manager couldn't save Ciara from a bad deal with Jive Records, who neglected her Basic Instinct album to the extent that the R&B singer publicly begged to be released from her contract. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup)
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6 / 10
'N SyncManager: Lou PearlmanBreak-up Year: 1998 - 'N Sync had an infamous battle with super manager Lou Pearlman, who founded the group as the next Backstreet Boys and then proceeded to cheat them out of millions of dollars. The group sued Pearlman, a rich man thanks to his involvement with late '90s biggest boy bands, including The Backstreet Boys, LFO and O-Town, for stealing as much of 50 percent of their earnings and later settled out of court. Verdict: Pearlman was a notorious leach, and in 2008 he was convicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison. After shaking him off and signing with Jive Records, 'NSync hit the stratosphere, selling a million copies of their second album No Strings Attached in a single day. (Photos, from left: Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images Christian Zeise/WENN)
7 / 10
BeyoncѐManager: Matthew KnowlesBreak-up Year: 2011 - After 20 years, B. shocked her fans by announcing a professional split with her father, Matthew Knowles, who had managed her career since the earliest Destiny's Child days. Verdict: It's too soon to tell what impact the split will have on B's career, check back after her upcoming album, 4, hits stores.(Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
8 / 10
Gucci ManeManager: Deb AntneyBreak-up Year: 2010 - Gucci Mane and Deborah Antney, mother to Waka Flocka Flame and former manager of Nicki Minaj, parted ways in 2010 when the Atlanta rapper dissolved his So Icey Entertainment imprint to start a new company with new blood. Gucci soon reconciled with Antney, however, reportedly re-teaming with her later that year. Verdict: Behind bars for much of the past two years, Gucci hasn’t given Antney much of a career to manage of late.(Photos, from left: Brad Barket/PictureGroup; Sandra Rose/Getty Images)
9 / 10
RihannaManager: Marc JordanBreak-up Year: 2010 - Last year Rihanna joined big brother Jay-Z as an artist signed to his Roc Nation management company, leaving behind manager Marc Jordan in the process. Jordan had been with Ri for years, but the Roc Nation deal was too sweet, allowing the pop star to form her own company, Rihanna Entertainment, to produce fragrances, clothing lines and other ancillary merchandise. Verdict: It's still early, but Rihanna should be in good hands with Jay, who gave her her first major record deal while president of Def Jam in 2005.(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)