‘American Idol’ co-producer seeks $5.85 million from Phillip Phillips

ALBANY — 19 Entertainment, the co-producer of “American Idol,” and two sister companies have filed an adversary complaint in federal bankruptcy court against singer Phillip Phillips, asking the court for a judgment of $5.85 million and a declaration that the entertainer is obligated to perform in accordance with his 2012 agreements with the organizations.

According to documents filed Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York by 19 Entertainment Inc., 19 Recordings Inc. and 19 Publishing Inc. — related companies based in West Hollywood, Calif. — the corporations filed on April 28 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the court. 19 Entertainment co-produced “American Idol” and is an artist management company, while 19 Recordings is a record label and 19 Publishing is a song publishing company.

In January 2015, Phillips, who in May 2012 won the 11th season of the “American Idol” TV show that concluded its 15-season run in February, filed a petition with the Department of Industrial Relations for the state of California, contending his contract with the plaintiff companies should be void because it violated the California Talent Agencies Act.

Despite the contract dispute, Phillips appeared on “Idol” during its final season.

After the three companies filed for bankruptcy protection April 28, bankruptcy court document says, the hearing officer appointed by the California labor commissioner for Phillips’ petition said on May 4 that he was closing the file “without adjudication of the petition.”

“Neither an opposition to the motion nor a determination on the motion was filed,” the bankruptcy court document states.

The plaintiffs said that the Albany entertainer contracted in January 2012 for management of his career as an entertainer, endorsements and merchandising (19 Entertainment); recording services (19 Recordings), and songwriter/co-publishing (19 Publishing). The document said Phillips’ wholly owned corporation, Unkommon, was added to the contract with 19 Entertainment in November 2012.

In their bankruptcy court filings Thursday, the plaintiffs argued that the singer owes $850,000 in outstanding commissions and that as “a direct and proximate result of Phillips’ anticipatory repudiation and breach of the agreements” the three companies have been damaged by an amount of $5 million.

Saying that neither a court nor the California Labor Commissioner has found the contracts between Phillips and the three companies to be void, the plaintiffs argue that they “are entitled to a declaratory judgment that the agreements between the parties are in effect and that each party is obligated to perform pursuant to the terms of the agreement.”

Phillips, meanwhile, is set to co-headline a 40-city tour this summer with Matt Nathanson. They’re scheduled to open later this month at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, Calif.