Shakira Designer says Sony Stiffed Him for "She Wolf"

The big-bucks creative director who took on design and photography for Shakira’s new album says the she wolf’s record label paid him only half of what he’s due. Now the designer has filed a lawsuit against Sony in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging he's owed $64,000.

Last spring Lee Swillingham—former creative director of “80s fashion Bible” The Face magazine—signed a contract with the label, but failed to read the fine print below. He was to earn $63,000 for his work on the Colombian singer’s beastly new effort—half of which Sony gave him up-front—plus $5,000 for every extra day of labor. But a clause specified that if Sony wasn’t pleased with the product, it wouldn’t pay. Now, that’s exactly what the record company is claiming, although it’s still using Swillingham’s images of the bodiced, bed-headed singer to sell the album. Sony did not reply to the NY Post’s request for a comment, but if this inequity continues Mayor Bloomberg may be forced to withdraw his support.

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By Sabrina Jaszi in Arts & Entertainment, News on January 24, 2010 11:22 AM

Comments [rss]

Amanda Harletsch

Pay the designer!!

The cost was agreed by both parties in a contract and the label is profiting from the designer´s work by millions!!

If a design/product is going to reach MILLIONS of people the designer can demand expect/ask for a higher retribution ,when signing the contract, than if the design is going to reach just a very reduced audience.

They´re just abusing their position to screwing the guy!

zincink

creatives always get screwed..but 64,000 really seems overpriced for that cover..

inoyourider

They'll always a pay a specialist for this kind of thing.

But if you don't like it you shouldn't still be using it. If the steak was too tough don't eat it all before you choose to complain.

And it's sad they put so many effects on this pic- Shakira is incredibly hot in person and does not need the help at all.

CR

They don't have some idiot in the art department who does this kind of stuff? Seriously. Also, who the hell buys CDs and therefore looks at album art anymore - especially Shakira's album artwork?