Ellie Goulding sues former managers over hidden Live Nation ties

Ellie Goulding has filed a lawsuit against her former managers, Rukes.com Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, alleging they concealed a significant Live Nation conflict of interest during her seven-year tenure at TaP Management. The lawsuit, filed in the UK on July 24, claims breach of fiduciary duty and seeks equitable compensation and damages. Goulding was managed by TaP from 2018 to 2025 on a 20% commission basis. Live Nation acquired a 50.1% stake in TaP through its parent company HNOE in 2015, later purchasing the remaining shares in 2019. Goulding alleges she was never informed of this Live Nation ownership. During her time at TaP, her management allegedly pushed her toward Live Nation for concert promotions, merchandise, and a documentary, creating a potential conflict of interest. This alignment may have influenced her financial and career decisions. After leaving TaP, Goulding has re-joined management under Sarah Stennett and signed with WME for worldwide representation, marking a strategic reset in her business team. The lawsuit is significant as it occurs amid Goulding’s active creative phase, including her recent single ‘Ravers,’ which leans into dance music. The conflict claim is central to one of the most-watched artist-management disputes in modern pop.