In a significant development, the legal dispute between Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz and his former agency, WME, has reached a resolution. The lawsuit, which had been ongoing for over two years, centered around allegations of fraud related to a “live-to-film concert” tour of the acclaimed movie “La La Land,” directed by Damien Chazelle.
The settlement details remain confidential, and the financial terms have not been disclosed. WME released a statement expressing satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “The parties are happy to report that they have resolved their differences.” Hurwitz’s representatives have not commented on the settlement.
The conflict between Hurwitz and WME began in 2020, with the composer accusing the agency of unethical behavior. Hurwitz’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freeman, filed a complaint in January 2022, alleging that WME engaged in self-dealing and violated its fiduciary duties. The complaint described WME’s actions as “shocking conduct” aimed at extracting additional profits from Hurwitz without his knowledge.
Initially, WME dismissed the claims as baseless, setting the stage for a potential courtroom battle. However, the situation took a different turn as negotiations between the two parties progressed. Hurwitz, who has since joined CAA, has been managing the “La La Land In Concert” series since September 2023. Discussions between WME and Hurwitz had been ongoing for nearly a year, with signs of a possible resolution emerging in August when Hurwitz’s attorney filed for a dismissal of the lawsuit.
The dismissal, filed “without prejudice,” allowed Hurwitz the option to refile the case if necessary. This move came shortly after the case was initially scheduled for trial, which was subsequently postponed and then removed from the court calendar.
Hurwitz, known for his collaboration with Chazelle, won Academy Awards in 2017 for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “La La Land.” Despite the legal battle, Hurwitz continued to achieve success, receiving an Oscar nomination for his score for “Babylon” and winning Golden Globes for “First Man” and “Babylon.”
The “La La Land Live” tour, featuring live orchestral performances of the film’s score, is set to begin on July 19 in Tenerife, Spain, and will continue until February 16, 2025, with stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The lawsuit filed by Hurwitz in 2022 accused WME of exploiting its relationship with him to secure a license from Lionsgate for the “La La Land” tour. Hurwitz claimed that WME engaged in self-dealing by competing against him for concert profits. The lawsuit also alleged that WME misled Hurwitz about the financial arrangements, convincing him to accept minimal compensation while the agency pocketed significant profits.
According to the complaint, WME approached Hurwitz about producing a concert tour featuring live orchestral performances of the “La La Land” score. Hurwitz was promised the right of first refusal to conduct the performances, with a $50,000 fee per show. However, Hurwitz later discovered that WME was entitled to a fixed profit participation from each performance, a detail that was not disclosed to him.
The lawsuit further claimed that WME repeatedly lied to Hurwitz about the tour’s financials, convincing him to accept a smaller share of the profits. To avoid paying Hurwitz the $50,000 conducting fee, WME allegedly told him there wasn’t enough money to hire him, while the budget was constrained by the agency’s fixed fee for producing the performances.
Hurwitz’s complaint described the situation as an absurd reversal of the talent-agent relationship, with the agency denying him opportunities to work on a project it was supposed to represent him in. The lawsuit included claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and fraud.
WME, in its defense, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the claims were without merit. The agency stated its intention to vigorously defend itself against the allegations.
The resolution of this lawsuit marks the end of a contentious chapter between Hurwitz and WME. As Hurwitz continues his successful career with CAA, the “La La Land Live” tour is set to captivate audiences worldwide, showcasing the music that earned him critical acclaim and prestigious awards.
