Nearly eight years after the untimely death of legendary musician Prince, his heirs find themselves entangled in yet another legal dispute. This time, the conflict involves two former associates of the artist, adding to the long and complex battle over control of his substantial estate.
The latest lawsuit, which became public on Wednesday in a Delaware court, pits four of Prince’s heirs against two of his former business associates. The disagreement centers around control of Prince Legacy LLC, one of two holding companies established in 2022 to oversee the late artist’s estate valued at $156 million. Primary Wave, the owner of the other half of the estate, is not involved in the dispute.
The process of settling Prince’s estate has been plagued by legal battles at almost every turn. The absence of a will left by the artist in 2016 only added to the complexity of the situation. This irony is particularly poignant for someone who fought relentlessly for control over the rights to his music.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Prince’s estate has managed to release several boxed sets featuring previously unreleased material from his extensive vault. The most recent release, a comprehensive collection from his final album “Diamonds and Pearls,” achieved significant success on the Billboard 200 chart during his lifetime. Fortunately, sources indicate that this lawsuit is unlikely to hinder future releases, after experiencing delays during the probate court proceedings in 2022.
The recently uncovered lawsuit was filed by L. Londell McMillan, who briefly managed Prince during the 1990s, and Charles Spicer. They allege that four of Prince’s family members have been attempting to remove them from the Prince Legacy LLC company, violating a previous agreement and potentially causing immense damage to the preservation and protection of Prince’s legacy.
According to McMillan and Spicer, the family members involved lack the necessary business and management experience, as well as familiarity with the music and entertainment industries, to effectively run the company. They argue that the interference and intervention by these individuals will not only disrupt the operations of Prince Legacy but also jeopardize the company’s goodwill, existing relationships, and revenue streams.
The lawsuit names Prince’s half-sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson, along with his niece Breanna Nelson and nephew Allen Nelson, as defendants. None of them have provided immediate comments on the matter.
Following a legal determination that appointed six of Prince’s half-siblings as heirs, three of them subsequently sold their interests to Primary Wave. Thus, the estate was eventually divided between Prince Legacy, owned by McMillan, Spicer, and the remaining heirs, and Prince Oat Holdings, owned by Primary Wave.
Among the multiple allegations in the lawsuit, McMillan and Spicer claim that Sharon and Breanna attempted to sell their shares in the holding company to Primary Wave without obtaining the consent of all its members. They further assert that an attempt was made to modify the company’s bylaws to facilitate the sale. Additionally, they accuse Sharon of attempting to replace the entire staff of Paisley Park, Prince’s iconic studio-residence, with individuals of her choosing, which was ultimately rejected. They also claim that Breanna sought to make significant hires within the company, including appointing her son as an intern in the marketing department, without consulting the relevant parties.
The legal battle surrounding Prince’s estate continues to unfold, and Variety will provide further updates as the situation develops.
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