Timbaland sues former managers for $15M, alleging fraud
The producer says trusted business insiders drained money, hid payments and nearly let his home hit foreclosure.
Timbaland has filed a $15 million lawsuit against former manager Gary Marella and former business manager Bruce Seckendorf, The Hollywood Reporter reports. In a 65-page Los Angeles Superior Court complaint, the producer alleges fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, civil theft and other claims. The suit accuses Marella of taking unauthorized commissions, fees and reimbursements, and accuses Seckendorf’s side of failing to pay Timbaland’s mortgage and federal taxes on time. According to the complaint, Timbaland learned of the alleged issues after receiving a foreclosure notice last year, then brought in independent legal and financial help. THR says Marella, Seckendorf and their firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The dispute also reaches into Timbaland’s Verzuz money, his 2019 Hipgnosis catalog sale and Beatclub, the beat marketplace he co-founded with Marella.
Why it matters: For DMV producers, DJs and indie artists, this is the unglamorous side of music money: the biggest records and platforms still depend on clean books, clear contracts and people you can audit.
Sources
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