Brief
Music manager sues Universal Music over Gigi Perez contract
Josh Marshall's Mogul Vision claims UMG breached a 2021 contract after he helped sign TikTok star Gigi Perez.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Music manager Josh Marshall, founder of Mogul Vision, filed a lawsuit on October 5, 2026 accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) of breaching a contract and diverting revenue from TikTok‑sensation Gigi Perez.
What happened
The complaint, obtained by Billboard, says Marshall "discovered the artist" and persuaded Interscope Records chief John Janick and senior A&R Nicole Wyskoarko to sign her in the summer of 2021 after her song "Sometimes (Backwood)" went viral on TikTok. The suit alleges that UMG, which owns Interscope and Island Records, later excluded Marshall from the artist’s earnings and failed to honor specific contractual rights outlined in a September 2021 joint agreement between Mogul Vision and Interscope.
What the reports add
Billboard notes that Perez’s music has been streamed more than 3.1 billion times on Spotify and an estimated 5 billion times across all platforms. The filing seeks at least $25 million in damages and a court order granting Mogul Vision ownership rights to certain Perez recordings. The singer is not named as a defendant, and both UMG and Perez’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
What was said
The lawsuit states that Marshall "brought" Perez to Interscope and "championed her signing," but UMG "captured for themselves" the proceeds of her "explosive success." No direct quotations from UMG or Perez appear in the source.
How it came about
Marshall launched Mogul Vision in 2019 and has managed artists such as Kenny Hoopla and Lil Mosey. His claim centers on the 2021 deal that linked his firm with Interscope, a partnership that he says was later undermined by UMG’s actions. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the music industry over management contracts and the role of major labels in the era of social‑media‑driven hits.
Key facts
- Josh Marshall's Mogul Vision filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group on Oct. 5, 2026. (billboard.com)
- The suit alleges UMG breached a September 2021 contract after Marshall helped sign Gigi Perez. (billboard.com)
- Marshall seeks at least $25 million in damages and ownership rights to some of Perez's music. (billboard.com)
- Gigi Perez's music has been streamed over 3.1 billion times on Spotify and about 5 billion times across all platforms. (billboard.com)
- Neither UMG nor Perez's representatives responded to comment requests. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “A Manager Claims He ‘Discovered’ Gigi Perez, But UMG Illegally Cut Him Out of Her ‘Explosive Success’”
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