Kylie sues Waterman for £100,000

Music

16:30 24 January 2005

Kylie Minogue is suing her former record producer for more than £100,000 in lost royalties.

The sexy singer is claiming undisclosed damages from pop svengali Pete Waterman - who helped turn her into one of the world's most successful artists - claiming he owes her more than £176,000 in unpaid profits from the sales of her fourth studio album 'Let's Get To It' and her 'Greatest Hits' record, first released in 1992.

The 36-year-old star launched the suit in her native Melbourne after private investigation firm, De La Haye Royalty, spent two years studying the accounts of Waterman's current venture, PAL production, and discovered their client had been underpaid by more than £400,000.

Since then, Waterman has paid his young protégée and her family, trading as KDB Ltd, more than £260,000, but papers lodged by the star last week are reportedly seeking further payments from the 57-year-old record boss, including £62,000 for an alleged "incorrect deduction" of discounts.

The latest action will drive a further wedge between the Australian singer and 'Pop idol' judge Pete, whose former record company, Stock, Aitken & Waterman, launched her 17-year pop career in 1988.

Waterman accused Kylie of "selling out" in 1996 after she quit pop music for a raunchier image while in 2002 he claimed the star had almost bankrupted him with her excessive pay demands.

He said at the time: "In 1989 we banked £17 million and I thought, 'Fantastic', until the accountant phoned to say we were £8.9 million overdrawn and 'You're paying the artist too much.'

"In retrospect, Kylie was the worst thing that happened to us although she is fantastic and we are all best mates."

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