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Rita Ora 'is suing Jay Z's Roc Nation', claiming relationship is 'irrevocably damaged'
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The singer's legal team are arguing that the record label has diversified and left her behind
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6813571/rita-ora-lawsuit-roc-nation-jay-z
Rita Ora has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Jay Z's Roc Nation record label.
The X Factor judge , who signed with the label in 2008, is arguing that the company has left her behind upon diversifying.
During her time with Roc Nation, the 25-year-old has only released one album and allegedly believes she's already been forgotten about.
According to reports, the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, states: "When Rita signed, Roc Nation and its senior executives were very involved with her as an artist.
"As Roc Nation's interests diversified, there were fewer resources available and the company suffered a revolving door of executives.
"Rita's remaining supporters at the label left or moved on to other activities, to the point where she no longer had a relationship with anyone at the company."
The paperwork continues to call Roc Nation a 'diminished' record label with 'only a handful of admittedly worthy heritage superstar artists.'
In an attempt to break her contract, Rita is citing Labour Code §2855, known colloquially as the Seven Year Rule.
The code was successfully used by actress Olivia De Haviland in 1944 when she filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros, setting a precedent for future cases in the entertainment industry.
Rita’s attorney Howard King said he hopes the judge can see that the same circumstances as Olivia’s case can be applied to Rita.
The complaint reportedly continues: "Rita's relationship with Roc Nation is irrevocably damaged.
"Fortunately for Rita, the California legislature had the foresight to protect its artists from the sorts of vicissitudes she's experienced with Roc Nation."
We have contacted Rita and Jay Z's reps for a comment.
Rita's hopes at reigniting her music career come after she successfully led Luisa Johnson to the X Factor crown on Sunday .
In what was her first year as a judge, Rita beat out Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to have the last act standing.
Rita Ora fights to be released from Jay Z's label as she's ''recorded 3 albums' worth of material''
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The singer, 25, hasn’t released an album in three years and is presenting herself as “orphaned” by Roc Nation
Rita Ora is fighting Jay Z’s record label Roc Nation in court in an attempt to be released from her contract with the company.
The singer, 25, who hasn’t released an album in three years, is presenting herself as “orphaned” by the label, which she says has been preoccupied with ventures such as the streaming service Tidal and sports management.
In papers filed at LA’s Superior Court, her attorney lashed out at the “diminished” company’s “revolving door” of executives, and describes her relationship as “irrevocably damaged”.
Rita, who signed to Roc Nation in 2008, claims she funded her own video shoots, recording costs and promotional TV appearances, and alleges the company has become inattentive.
A source said: “She’s recorded at least three albums' worth of material.”
The source said it was due to be released last summer, but the date was postponed when her ex Calvin Harris pulled all his material.
“Then she was going to release to coincide with her stint on The Voice, but the plans were shelved,” the source said.
“This year, she had been due to release in September and in November, which would have coincided with The X Factor.
"That didn’t happen. She managed to collaborate with Sigma as she appears as a featured artist – so the project wasn’t funded by her label.
“She’s angry that she’s only released one album in seven years, in what was up to a five-album deal. She wants freedom from them.”
Rita is accusing the label of violating a Californian code that says entertainment professionals cannot be contractually obliged to perform services more than seven years after a deal is made.
Roc Nation did not return requests for a comment.