Latest news with #MusiCares
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson Files $500 Million Counter-Complaint Against Former Employees, Claiming Slander and Elder Abuse
Smokey Robinson has filed a $500 million counter-complaint against four former female employees who had sued him earlier this month for $50 million and alleged sexual battery, assault and false imprisonment. Robinson filed his cross-complaint with his with Frances against the Jane Does and their legal representatives, accusing them of slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and financial elder abuse. More from Variety Smokey Robinson Sexual Assault Allegations Under Criminal Investigation; Singer's Attorney Calls Lawsuit 'Manufactured' Smokey Robinson Sued by Former Female Employees Alleging Sexual Assault and Battery MusiCares Dinner for Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy Features Salutes From Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Samara Joy and More In the suit, reviewed by Variety, counsel for the Robinsons describe the allegations as 'fabricated in support of their extortionate scheme' and that they had treated the employees as 'extended family.' 'The Robinsons did not abuse, harm or take advantage of Plaintiffs; they treated Plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,' reads the filing, which describes how the Robinsons vacationed with the accusers, offered them financial support and celebrated holidays together. The suit states that the women made pre-litigation demands for $100 million or more, which were not met, prompting them to '[create] a media circus and [make] a public spectacle of themselves.' It points out that John W. Harris, who reps the women, publicly described Robinson as a 'serial and sick rapist' and a 'serial assaulter.' It also notes that the accusers are hiding their identities by filing anonymously and 'hoping to convince the general public of a half story.' Harris did not immediately respond to Variety's request for comment. Counsel for the Robinsons claims that the women never brought up any indication of a hostile workplace. They state that at least one of the women left employment and then returned, 'undercutting their claims that Plaintiffs were too afraid to report any alleged abuse.' The counter-claim suggests that the women could have potentially been behind the theft of financial records and gold coins, and says that one woman took Frances' cell phone and deleted all of their text exchanges, photos and identifying information. In tandem with the cross-complaint, the Robinsons filed a motion to strike the suit and have them refile for failure to file under their real names. It states that filing under a fictitious name violates the California Code of Civil Procedure: 'Plaintiffs may only use fictitious names when permitted under statute or after presenting a clear case to the court that extenuating circumstances have created an overriding privacy interest. Neither applies here.' The four Jane Does initially sued in early May, detailing similar allegations of repeated assault and harassment. All Does stated that they did not take action against Robinson for fear of losing their livelihood, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some of them were fearful it could affect their immigration status. Over a week later, a criminal investigation was launched into the allegations. 'The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau is actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson,'' read a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 'The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MusiCares Executive Director Laura Segura Leaves Post in Sudden Departure
Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, the Recording Academy's charity-focused partner organization, has departed from her post after five years in the role, according to the Recording Academy's website and an email sent to staff by CEO Harvey Mason Jr. The abruptness, wording and timing of the announcement, which was sent to staff over the Memorial Day holiday — a common time for burying news — and the Academy's lack of response to press inquiries suggests a less-than-smooth departure. The memo announced a 'key leadership transition' and stated that Segura is 'no longer with MusiCares.' It continued that Theresa Wolters, who is the organization's head of health and human services, 'is stepping into the role of interim executive director.' The change is reflected in the MusiCares website, which no longer includes Segura's name and lists Wolters as 'interim' executive director. Reps for the Recording Academy did not respond to Variety's requests for further information over the weekend; Billboard first reported the news on Saturday. More from Variety No Fakes Act Reintroduced in Congress With Support From Google, RIAA, More Music Industry Moves: Kendrick Lamar Collaborator MTech Inks Deal With Sony Music Publishing Grateful Dead's MusiCares Salute Is Heavy on Gratitude, as All-Star Cast Shares the Lovefest With Bob Weir and Mickey Hart MusiCares, which was founded in 1989 an independent 501(c)(3) charity, has paid out well over $100 million in relief to musicians and music executives over the years, including more than $30 million in COVID relief to the music community during the pandemic and $10 million in Los Angeles wildfire relief earlier this year. Additionally, $16 million was raised by MusiCares and the Recording Academy during Grammy weekend via its Fire Relief campaign and its annual Persons of the Year gala, which honored the Grateful Dead. Segura spoke of the organization's efforts at the event. However, along with its admirable service to the music community, the organization's top role has been troubled in recent years. Segura's predecessor, Dana Tomarken, was abruptly fired in April of 2018 after 25 years with the Academy, resulting in her filing a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the Academy. The lawsuit included a withering 4,500-word letter Tomarken wrote to the Academy's Board of Trustees that essentially said she was being blamed for the financial losses the Academy took in holding the Grammy Awards in New York that year, rather than its usual home base of Los Angeles. She accused former chairman/president Neil Portnow of brokering a deal without her knowledge to hold the organization's annual Person of the Year event at a venue that left the charity with a significant loss in its fundraising efforts, after she had made arrangements to hold the event at a competing venue. The Grammy Awards were held in New York that year for the first time since 2003, leading to a $5 million shortfall for the show, which Tomarken claimed Portnow attempted to cover by steering funds away from MusiCares. She also accused Portnow of running a 'boys' club' and said she was terminated 'after a painful year of trying to protect MusiCares from being exploited, enduring ongoing instances of workplace abuse and harassment' from two male coworkers whom she named in the letter. Portnow and the Academy denied any wrongdoing; the lawsuit was settled out of court in November of 2019. Her departure left MusiCares without an official leader when the pandemic began just four months later, but Mason and MusiCares chair/Amazon Music chief Steve Boom took the reins and began distributing relief money almost immediately. Segura was named executive director in May of 2020; she had been the Recording Academy's vice president of membership and industry relations for the previous seven years. Variety will have more on the situation as it develops. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
MusiCares ® to Host 2nd Annual Mindful May in Partnership With Sweetwater, Providing Nashville Music Professionals a Mental Health and Wellness Experience
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MusiCares ®, the leading charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community, will host the second annual Mindful May, presented in collaboration with Sweetwater. The event will take place on May 21 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverside Revival in Nashville, offering a restorative experience to support the unique mental, physical and emotional needs of music professionals during Mental Health Awareness Month. In recent months, conversations about the pressures facing music professionals have become more visible and urgent. Following the overwhelming response to last year's inaugural gathering in Los Angeles, MusiCares and Sweetwater are bringing the event to Nashville. The 'Music City' is home to thousands of artists, engineers, songwriters, road crews, and other music professionals who navigate some of the most high-pressure and unpredictable conditions in any industry. 'Mindful May amplifies the important role that our industry can play in supporting music makers' mental health and overall well-being,' explained Sweetwater CEO Mike Clem. 'We serve with heart and strive to care for musicians throughout their journey – and MusiCares shares that commitment.' In such a fast-paced industry, this event gives music professionals a chance to slow down, check in with themselves, and discover new ways to care for their minds and bodies. An extension of MusiCares' ongoing care for the music community, Mindful May provides an intentional space to explore how mindfulness practices can contribute to long-term health. This year's event will feature immersive wellness experiences including a group sound bath, yoga, massage therapy, holistic chiropractic services, mental health providers, custom ear mold fittings, a guided tea ceremony, a meditation station, and nourishing refreshments. 'Mindful May was created to meet people where they are and give them mental health tools they can carry into everyday life,' said Marshai Iverson, Managing Director of Mental Health and Addiction Recovery at MusiCares and curator of the event. 'Traditional therapy isn't for everyone, and that's okay. Especially in the music industry, where the pace is relentless and the pressure never lets up, it's crucial to offer support in ways that truly resonate with creatives. Every element of Mindful May has been intentionally curated to provide accessible, meaningful ways for artists and industry professionals to care for their mental and physical health.' Guests will also be invited to attend a panel conversation with a lineup of music professionals and experts sharing their personal stories about navigating mental health, touring, creative pressure, and healing. The discussion, led by moderator Candress Suber of MusiCares with panelists including renowned psychologist Dave Verhaagen and musical artists Drake White and Grace Bowers, will offer honest, lived-in perspectives on the often-unseen tolls of life in music, along with the practices that help these artists stay grounded, resilient, and connected to themselves and their communities. 'We were so moved by the response to last year's Mindful May event, and we're thrilled to bring it to Nashville this year,' said Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. 'Mindful May reflects what we believe at our core – that caring for music professionals requires more than just one-size-fits-all solutions. It takes a holistic approach that acknowledges the complexity of their lives and meets them with dignity, empathy and real tools for wellness. We're proud to grow this effort alongside Sweetwater and offer a moment of healing for the community that gives so much to all of us.' Throughout the event, attendees will also be able to connect with MusiCares staff and learn more about the organization's year-round services and support programs. From preventive care to recovery assistance, MusiCares remains a trusted and compassionate safety net for those in the music community when they need help. The organization is committed to making wellness more accessible and empowering for all music people. ABOUT MUSICARES MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: ABOUT SWEETWATER The No. 1 online retailer for music makers, Sweetwater is trusted and beloved by millions of musicians, sound engineers, band and orchestra directors, and podcasters who rely on the company to help advance their musical and creative journeys. From beginners to rock stars, music makers everywhere seek out Sweetwater's industry-leading expertise, including in-depth product videos to inform their purchases and unrivaled post-care support. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and founded in 1979, Sweetwater Sound, LLC credits its four decades of profitability to its now 2,500 employees and its deep understanding of the profound connection that music makers have with their craft, their gear and the creative process. Sweetwater is amplifying change through music, lifting up communities by creating, empowering, and caring about the music makers of tomorrow and today. For more information, visit:
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
The Roots to play Saturday concert at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival
The Roots arrive at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Lionel Richie at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson Sexual Assault Allegations Under Criminal Investigation; Singer's Attorney Calls Lawsuit ‘Manufactured'
A criminal investigation has been launched into the sexual assault allegations against legendary singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson, his attorneys and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirm to Variety. The singer was sued last week by former female employees alleging sexual battery, assault and false imprisonment. The women are asking for a trial with general damages for several allegations of no less than $50 million. Four Jane Does, who worked for the singer between 2006 and 2024, filed a suit against Robinson and his wife Frances in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, all making similar claims that Robinson sexually assaulted them during their employment as housekeepers at his Chatsworth, CA, residence. More from Variety Smokey Robinson Sued by Former Female Employees Alleging Sexual Assault and Battery MusiCares Dinner for Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy Features Salutes From Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Samara Joy and More Lionel Richie, Brandi Carlile, Chloe X Halle, Many More to Perform at MusiCares Concert Honoring Motown's Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson A statement from the sheriff's office issued Thursday reads: 'The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau is actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson.' The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment.' The singer's attorney said in a statement: 'We are aware that a police report has now been filed by the Plaintiffs in the civil lawsuit. It is clear to us what is happening here. Plaintiffs filed a police report only after they filed a $50 million lawsuit. This means only that the police are now required to investigate. We welcome that investigation, which involves Plaintiffs who continue to hide their identities, because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing. We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create. The record will ultimately demonstrate that this is nothing more than a manufactured lawsuit intended to tarnish the good names of Smokey and Frances Robinson, for no other reason than unadulterated avarice.' The women also said that Robinson's wife created a hostile work environment by using 'ethnically pejorative words and language' while screaming at the singer, and that she did not take proper action to prevent misconduct despite knowledge that he'd settled cases from previous women alleging similar assaults. All Does state that they did not take action against Robinson for fear of losing their livelihood, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some of them were fearful it could affect their immigration status. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
