Sony BMG Suit

Connecticut attorney and artist rep James Walker has filed a lawsuit in federal court against record executives at Sony BMG Music Entertainment, claiming they tricked some of his gospel music clients into firing him.

Walker – whose stable includes Bobby Jones and Twinkie Clark – claims the execs were trying to keep company costs down and retain control over the gospel market, according to the suit.

“BMG’s intimidation tactics were part of its campaign to exploit artists, writers, producers and arrangers, and pressure them to accept mediocre or minimal compensation for their artistic contribution,” the suit says.

Walker claims Sony BMG execs didn’t want to negotiate with him because he was forcing the label to pay his artists more money. He alleges Max Siegel, VP of the label’s gospel subsidiary, Verity Records, intimidated artists into hiring him as their representative instead.

“There’s no other reason,” Walker’s attorney, Ross Garber, said. “The guy negotiated the highest rates in the industry. He made these guys a boatload of money.”

He added that negotiations between the two sides failed.

A number of artists dropped Walker, including Donald Lawrence and Grammy winner Hezekiah Walker.

A call to Sony BMG was not returned at press time.