Universal Accused of Conning Nelly  4/26/05

Hip-hop star Nelly is at the center of a legal wrangle between record company Universal and two American music promoters, who claim the label "defrauded" some of its biggest artists.

National Music Marketing and Majestic Promotions have filed suit against Universal and are seeking $100 million from the music giants, claiming the firm "bullied" them into submitting false invoices.

Therefore, in effect Universal made its big names like Nelly pay for other artists' promotion, according to the promoters.

The legal action accuses the music company of fraud, racketeering, trade libel and breach of contract.

David DJ Cohen, the promoters' lawyer, says, "What (Universal) was doing was defrauding their artists - some of their biggest artists.

"I'm sure Nelly is not going to be too happy that they were taking money out of his promotion budget to pay for promotions for other artists - money that he had to pay back from his royalties."

The promoters also claim Universal ordered radio stations to avoid doing business with them after they refused to submit fraudulent invoices.