Music
Iovine’s representative says they are “shocked and amazed” by the allegations made in the subpoenas in New York
Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records and headphone brand Beats, has been accused of sexual abuse and harassment by an unnamed woman.
Iovine was served with a subpoena before a lawsuit was filed against him. The New York court document contains allegations that the woman “suffered as a result of sexual abuse, forcible touching and sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of anti-discrimination laws in or about August 2007.” She demands compensation through damages.
A spokesperson for Iovine told Variety: “We are quite shocked and amazed by this alleged claim. This investigation is the first we have heard of this matter. No one has ever made such a claim against Jimmy Iovine, nor have we been contacted or made aware of a complaint by anyone, including this unknown plaintiff.”
Iovine has 20 days to respond to the subpoena, or 30 days if the subpoena is not personally served on him.
Iovine, 70, is one of the US music industry’s best-known producers and moguls. In the mid-’70s, he worked as an engineer on albums like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” rising to a producer role and overseeing albums by Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks and others. He founded Interscope in 1990 and it became home to important figures in the gangsta rap scene of the time, including Tupac Shakur as well as the multi-platinum album No Doubt.
Interscope continued to grow by merging with Geffen and A&M, supporting labels such as Death Row and Aftermath, the latter with Dr. Dre, who co-founded Beats Electronics with Iovine. The headphone maker was later acquired by Apple in 2014 for $3.2 billion, which remains Apple’s largest corporate acquisition ever.
The allegations against Iovine were made under New York State’s Adult Survivors Act, passed in 2022. This gives alleged victims of sexual assault a one-year window to file lawsuits against their perpetrators, even if the incident occurred earlier than restrictions in force legally allow such complaints. “It takes time to speak up, especially given the trauma that comes with disclosures,” State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in passing the bill. “With the Adult Survivors Act, we are saying we believe you and you deserve accountability.”
That window is set to close on Friday, and a number of similar lawsuits have been filed against prominent music industry figures in recent days.
Axl Rose has been accused of violent sexual assault since 1989 by model Sheila Kennedy, who alleges he physically assaulted and forcibly penetrated her. He denies the allegations and his lawyer says: “Mr. Rose does not recall ever meeting or speaking to the plaintiff and had never heard of these fictitious allegations before today.”
Sean Combs, the rapper and mogul known as P Diddy, has been accused of “abuse, violence and sex trafficking” by musician and former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, aka Cassie. He denied the allegations and the lawsuit was settled the following day under undisclosed terms.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, former Grammys boss Neil Portnow, late Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun and producer LA Reid are among those who have also recently had sexual misconduct lawsuits filed against them.
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