Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
Early in his career Stevie Wonder signed a contract with Motown Records. Like thousands of other recording artists, the terms were more beneficial to the record companies than for the artists. Wonder secured an attorney, Johanan Vigoda, to help him disengage from the Motown contract.
Vigoda was also able to secure a lucrative new contract for Wonder that was considered to be one of the best in the industry. Vigoda passed away in 2011.
Vigoda’s widow now claims that Wonder has failed to live up to that contract. A provision in it gives 6 percent of Wonder’s royalties to Vigoda and to Vigoda’s heirs in perpetuity. The 6 percent is higher than music industry standards and the perpetuity clause is also irregular.