Confirmed! - Usher Hands Benny The Pink Slip and Re-Hires Mom
By Njai Joszor |
Posted on 08/07/08 | Filed Under: R&B News, Usher
It’s official ! - Usher has rehired his mother Jonetta Patton as his manager, ending a year-long relationship with high profile manager to stars like Will Smith and Tyra Banks, Benny Medina.
In a statement released Wednesday, Patton has resumed her duties as manager of the R&B star who reportedly fired her just over a year ago. According to a source close to the camp, "He wanted her to come back on board and she decided to. He had really poor management and wanted her back."
As reported on Singersroom last month, Usher reportedly blamed Medina who was integral in the launch of his album “Here I Stand” for his low rated performance at the BET Awards and slow album sales. According to Nielsen Soundscan, “Here I Stand” has sold 948,000 copies in the United States to date, a fraction of his 2004 effort “Confessions,” which sold 3.77 million copies in its first 10 weeks.
In a statement issued via People Magazine, Medina says the split was amicable:“ With an artist like Usher, the bar is set really high. Whether it was management, marketing or the music, we achieved a number one single and a number one album. It is a completely new day and time in music now. In four years, his audience, demographic, and musical direction has changed. Records like Lil Wayne's 'Lollipop' are the type of phenomena that 'Yeah' was in 2004. I had a great time and we parted ways amicably.”
With the split finalized, Usher rejoins his mom’s J Pat Management which also manages his brother/producer J. Lack (Lloyd “Get It Shawty”), R&B group Kwiet Storm and R&B singer Dante.
In related news, Usher’s publicist, Patti Webster resigned August 1st. According to Billboard, this was also an amicable split “both parties still feel the utmost respect for each other.” Webster will continue to work with her other clients including Janet Jackson, Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri.
U guys are so ridiculous! I am sure there is no way Ush wud have been so mean to fire his mom. U all are lying, u obviously will wind up buying his music. He is man, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and Justin Timberlake are jerks, not usher. But Ush should have hid the truth about his personal life with Tameka b/c the media was really hurting his good name sad to say. Stop blaming it on Usher, Tameka must have controlled Usher and made him do the wrong decision. I hope things get better for Usher.
krissy
8/26/2008 8:55:03 PM
"hay baby i love u email me back"
Aquarian Girl
8/9/2008 1:09:53 AM
Basically Usher got what he deserved. He was dumb enough to fire his Mother over some $.50 hooker(his wife). Who does that?...But some fool-pecked loser. If they don't get along then keep them seperate. Business is business.
How long before we hear Maury's famous words? 'You Are Not The Father'!!! I just know it's coming. I totally lost all respect for him after he fired Moms. He won't be getting another dime out of me for his music.
cass
8/8/2008 9:29:03 AM
Usher's personal life is what's killing his career. Most of his fan base were women. He fired his mother because she wasn't getting along with his then fiance. That alone turned off his fans. He needs to face it, he is not the heart-throb he used to be.
me said it
8/8/2008 9:25:46 AM
I don't think it management or promotion...he got hella of that...it was the music and his personal life...plain and simple...music side was mediocre and bland, and personal life should have been kept of the news...imo
lisa
8/7/2008 7:11:26 PM
wow.
.......
8/7/2008 5:27:42 PM
Two words for Usher - CHRIS BROWN.
rydr
8/7/2008 11:01:40 AM
I hope he doesnt shine the flashlight in my eye at the movies next week. haha
Who fnin cares!
It’s official ! - Usher has rehired his mother Jonetta Patton as his manager, ending a year-long relationship with high profile manager to stars like Will Smith and Tyra Banks, Benny Medina. 
