Funk legend George Clinton is taking his decades-long battle for his music rights to court once again.
The Parliament-Funkadelic mastermind has filed a lawsuit against music executive Armen Boladian, accusing him of fraud, copyright infringement, and withholding royalties. The suit, filed on March 11 in Florida District Court, seeks compensatory and punitive damages while demanding that Clinton regain full control over his catalog.
A Fight for Ownership
According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Clinton’s lawsuit claims that Boladian and his companies—Nine Records, Southfield Music, and Eastbound Records—have been involved in a “decades-long scheme to defraud” him. The suit alleges that Boladian fraudulently obtained the rights to nearly 90% of Clinton’s catalog through deceptive contracts and hidden deals.
“I’m fighting for my life’s work and to ensure future generations of artists are treated fairly,” Clinton said in a statement. “When you’re young and just starting out in the music industry, it’s easy for others to take advantage of you. My eyes are wide open now, and I look forward to shining a light on the truth and exploitation of musicians.”
The Allegations Against Boladian
Clinton’s lawsuit paints a picture of a longstanding history of financial and legal manipulation at the hands of Boladian, who worked closely with Clinton between 1968-1975 and 1981-1991. During this time, Boladian served as Clinton’s “business partner, publishing administrator, financial consultant, and agent.” However, the lawsuit alleges that instead of protecting Clinton’s interests, Boladian:
- Withheld royalties and failed to provide industry-standard financial accounting.
- Added “fictitious songwriters” to Clinton’s compositions to dilute his royalty shares.
- Paid third parties to falsely claim ownership of Clinton’s work.
- Fabricated multiple versions of agreements to increase his control over Clinton’s publishing.
- Made unauthorized licensing and sales deals without Clinton’s knowledge or consent.
A Legal Battle Decades in the Making
Clinton and Boladian have fought in court multiple times before.
- In the mid-1990s, a District Court judge ruled that Clinton never signed the document that Boladian’s company used to claim rights over his catalog with the Copyright Office.
- In 1995, Boladian admitted under oath that he altered language in a 1982 agreement and added songs to expand his publishing share.
- In the early 2000s, Clinton attempted to regain control over his publishing rights but lost in a Florida court case.
- More recently, Clinton won a defamation lawsuit after Boladian sued him for statements made in his memoir, where Clinton accused Boladian of fabricating documents and fraudulently altering contracts.
What’s Next for Clinton?
Clinton has vowed to continue fighting for his legacy and will be holding a press conference later today to address the lawsuit. Boladian has not yet publicly responded to the new claims.
This case highlights the ongoing struggles artists face in reclaiming their creative rights, particularly Black artists who helped shape the music industry yet have faced exploitation for decades.
As the legal battle unfolds, one thing is clear—George Clinton is not backing down.
Visit www.kmob1003.com and upload your song today.
Shop exclusive drops at the KMOB Vibe Store.
