A brand new lawsuit accuses Jared Gutstadt, an L.A. music publishing and podcast govt who based the corporations Audio Up and Jingle Punks, of raping and assaulting certainly one of his firm’s songwriters.
Within the go well with, filed Dec. 31 in Los Angeles Superior Court docket, Mary Koons (recognized professionally as Scarlett Burke), alleges that Gutstadt subjected her to “years of psychological manipulation, physical violence and sexual abuse.” These claims embrace “repeated sexual assaults, including rape”; intercourse trafficking; thwarting skilled alternatives when she declined his advances; and “stalking, harassment, intimidation and retaliation when Ms. Koons attempted to distance herself from him.”
“I felt so disgusted and ashamed,” Koons stated in an interview, talking about her expertise with Gutstadt. “It was so difficult to stand up to this person. It was like he felt entitled to my entire life and body.”
Representatives for Gutstadt declined to touch upon the go well with.
“We are proud of our courageous client, Scarlett Burke, for coming forward to stop what she experienced at the hands of Mr. Gutstadt from ever happening to another young artist again,” stated Gabrielle Rosen Harvey, an legal professional at Filippatos PLLC, who’s representing Koons.
Gutstadt rose to prominence within the music and audio industries with corporations that promised profitable alternatives to rising songwriters and performers. He based Jingle Punks, a library music and licensing agency for movie and TV, in 2008, and offered a majority stake to WME in a reported eight-figure deal in 2012. He launched Audio Up, a platform for musicians to jot down and carry out scripted podcast musicals, in 2020 with a $4.5-million funding from MGM and different traders. Audio Up has launched tasks that includes Miranda Lambert and Machine Gun Kelly, attracted funding from the Weeknd and partnered with music publishing agency Anthem Leisure.
Jared Gutstadt, referred to as “Jingle Jared,” photographed at his Mandeville Canyon compound in Los Angeles.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Occasions)
Koons, an actor, songwriter and mannequin, stated in her go well with that she met Gutstadt on the Peppermint Membership in West Hollywood in 2017. His agency positioned a tune she recorded on the Netflix collection “Girls Incarcerated,” and he quickly “overwhelmed Ms. Koons with lavish gifts and gestures.” The 2 would later work on the podcast musical “Make It Up as We Go,” a collection a few fictional singer-songwriter that remembers “A Star Is Born.”
Koons alleges in her go well with that, on a piece journey to Nashville in 2017, Gutstadt introduced her to his lodge room and “forcibly grabbed her hand and put it on his penis,” the primary of a number of alleged assaults. “Because Mr. Gutstadt was deeply entrenched in every aspect of Ms. Koons’ life, he wielded his control with constant threats to destroy her career,” her go well with stated.
In 2019, after a gathering when Koons requested to renegotiate her contract, Koons alleges in her go well with that “Mr. Gutstadt became violent, hitting Ms. Koons, her dog, and breaking her property.” Later that 12 months, after an argument in a Santa Barbara lodge room, she alleges in her go well with that Gutstadt “violently tackled her to the ground, pinning her wrists to the bed, leaving visible bruises.” Koons stated she would usually “barricade herself in a guest bedroom at the Audio Up compound to escape from Mr. Gutstadt,” however “in a drunken rampage, Gutstadt would break through … and pick the lock.”
Koons alleges in her go well with that Gutstadt sexually assaulted her in 2022 in Los Angeles after a recording session, when she claims she woke as much as “Mr. Gutstadt on top of her, raping her in her sleep. When Ms. Koons realized what was happening, she froze … until Mr. Gutstadt finished, fearful of what more he could do to her.” After she confronted him, Koons alleges that Gustadt advised her, “Shut up … nobody raped you.” She alleges in her go well with that he raped her once more in a Pasadena lodge room in 2023 earlier than an Audio Up songwriting retreat.
Koons lastly reduce ties with Gutstadt and Audio Up this 12 months, and stated in her go well with that her PTSD from her time with him “permeates every aspect of her life.”
“I’ve had so many nightmares about this,” Koons stated in an interview. “I can’t tell you about all the anxiety. I’m afraid to walk my dog because I’m still afraid of him harming me. But I’m trying to figure out who I am without this person ruining my life and relationships. I’ve started to remember the person and the songwriter I was before I met him, and I want to be that person again.”
