Rap-Up.com || Beyoncé Refuses To Pay Dancers’ Agency Fees

Sources tell TMZ that Beyoncé is shooting several music videos in L.A. this week (most likely “Upgrade U” is one of them), which they’re told she is financing, not her label. Beyoncé’s choreographer, Frank Gatson, allegedly refused to work with any of the dancers’ agents on this job. By eliminating the middleman and dealing directly with the dancers, Beyoncé can pay them below standard wages. However, in order to maintain good working relationships, the production company for the project, RSA Films, has recently agreed to pay agency fees for some of the dancers.

A dancer cast in an A-list artist’s video can earn around $3000 for two rehearsal days and two shoot-days of work. Without agents fighting for their rights, the dancers on Beyoncé’s latest videos will earn less. While some dancers have boycotted the high-profile gig, others, willing to go around their agents, have been flown to L.A. and put up at hotels to work for the lower rates—just to say they danced for a megastar like Beyoncé.

Posted in News | Permalink

Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

51 Comments

Lea
January 30th, 2007 at 11:38 am
That’s a shame. If I was one of those dancers I would let my agent fight for my right, especially for better pay. Beyonce is a multi-millionaire who makes probably makes like a million in one day alone and she’s being CHEAP!!! That’s a damn shame. Dancers gotta eat too.
Giselle
January 30th, 2007 at 11:54 am
That’s ridiculous.
Black
January 30th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I dont believe this, you need alittle more proof than that. Maybe she just dont have to pay agent fees or something but I am sure the dancers will be paid VERY WELL!! Plus getting the change to dance with her would be enough for me LOL
*DRE*
January 30th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
# Well you be broke and dance with Beyonce…i’m sure the others would prefer to get paid also..She prolly is cheap..She better watch out or she’ll be finding new dancers..This girl keeps digging a bigger whole for herself..what a shame..poor girl
you dont kno me....
January 30th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Im surprised this got posted, most people wouldnt want to hear bad stuff about their beloved beyonce, whats else dont we know?
CeCe
January 30th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Y’all have to keep in mind that this is TMZ that is reporting this. Theie shit is always false (90% of their stories). Even if it was to be true, Bey is paying for everything for these 5 videos. Columbia/Sony BMG will probably reimburse her or it may be a tax write off. But those dancers will get their cut soon.
cltim
January 30th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
YEAH KEY WORD PPL TMZ lol its the internet version of those sleezy magazines…that lie…if anything the dancers will get more…b/c the middleman usual gets majority of the profit…trust me if this was true the dancers wood just leave and reject being in the vid…that wood make BEYONCE lose more than gain b/c she wood have to redue the search for dancers which cost in TRANSPORTATION and Expenses on the Building in which she will be renting in order to hold the tryouts…plus this is bad press …WHY WOOD BEYONCE WANT BAD PRESS come on ppl…she didnt get whr she is now by being dumb or cheap…plus she could get jay-z to pay for it .. this is B.S. rap-up shouldnt have waste there time posting this crap
kiki
January 30th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
please, some of u make some point, okay yeah this tmz might not be 100% true, but they have been coming with the truth lately, like the brandy thing. and cltim, your right beyonce doesn’t want bad press, but always wants to look good in the public eye. I can remember watching channel 2 asking her and her mom about the fact. that stores in illinois were saying her clothes didn’t fit every one and when beyonce’s mom heard that, the interview was ended. so i can believe she doesn’t want to pay her dancer, but if it’s not true, than okay.
henry
January 30th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
well this is not fake… they had it on the television… beyonce is being boycotted by some dancers… whats even crazier is that i guess this isnt the first time something like this has happened… idunno… they were talkin bout it on the channel 7 news… but damn thats ashame to be so rich and famous… but to be a tight wad to the people that have to fight and struggle to be in your video… the life of a dancer is no fun game… i know i use to to that shit… for shame beyonce… please let this shit be false….
*DRE*
January 30th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
This girl is gonna damage her career….She already upset people with her album and now this…I’m suprised she’s even releasing another song of that album
jummpy
January 30th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
What i can’t understand that some of you won’t belive it.Guess what CeCe i would love to hire you because you will wait for your’e money now to jovember,you know what lacefront and people in that business are cuthroat like that so i belive there some truth to it.
Giselle
January 30th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Dre, I was thinking the same thing. Why is she even releasing another single and video? No matter how many videos she make “B’Day” will never sell more than “Dangerously in Love” that was a good ass album, after B’Day I was like whatever.
Anonymous
January 30th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
TMZ with that fake bullshit.
Lea
January 30th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Of course the beyonce STANS would refuse to believe this even if its true because they refuse to believe beyonce is anything but a rich, humble and talented Queen that refuses to pay her dancers better wages, and is being cheap even though she has MONEY IN THE BANK!!!!!Smh. Shame on you(the naive and blinded stans and cheap beyonce)!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
January 30th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Thats messed up. That happens all the time though in L.A. the people have more money than they know what to do with, but they are so cheap when it comes to the talent.
Dave
January 31st, 2007 at 12:22 am
I dunno, i guess it depends on how much of a percentage was cut. I’m sure the agents get a 10-20% fee anyways off of what they would have made. If it’s not more than that, why not? There really arent nough details to really judge. Who’s also to say that the dancers boycotting weren’t even asked to be in the videos in the first place? Also it wasn’t Beyonce’s decision it doesn’t sound like according to the article and I doubt Beyonce really knows all that is paid out or how it’s paid it.
Anonymous
January 31st, 2007 at 12:43 am
Agents get 20% print and 10%t.v. work. So the main point that sucks about this is that Beyonce’s team knows that every dancer would die for a spot to be in the video and they can’t afford not to take the job… Therefore, they can treat them like shit and not have to pay the agency fee. (Say they were getting $1,000.00 the agency fee would be +10% most likely. Which equals to $100.00 extra above the $1,000.00. So, Beyonce’s people would be paying on a thousand dollar job, $1,100.00) Maybe beyonce should cut back on the new outfits untill she can pay the dancers.
henry
January 31st, 2007 at 3:24 am
for those saying that beyonce might not even know whats going on… she does… they were talkin bout the fact that she is paying for this video… and that it was her desicion… crazy shit huh… i was all shocked when i watched that shit…
Black
January 31st, 2007 at 6:41 am
All of you negative people are rediculous… U JUST WANT TO FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH BEYONCE LOL Yes I am a fan of her music but I think that her dancers is going to be paid pretty good and if they dont like what she is paying them, then they should go DANCE FOR SOMEONE ELSE RIGHT? Isnt that how the world works! Hell if she pay them $1000 a day, thats more than what most people make in a week. AND to the PERSON who said her CD was a disappointment, then why is it still in the TOP 10 so many months later and why is her Irreplaceable song #1 for 8 weeks. If anything YOUR a dissappointment for not being successful, did you ever think of that!! Hahaha… much luv people!!
Mayi
January 31st, 2007 at 7:54 am
She hyped herself up to get these new dancers, just to pay them dirt cheap? I would be pissed off cause she’s only using them for her advantage.
henry
January 31st, 2007 at 8:26 am
its hard ass work to be a dancer… let alone give up your life so you can go to auditions and takes classes everyday… what she would have had to pay is less than chump change for her… no excuse… she may be one of the hottest chicks in the game right now… but that dont meen she’s not shystee
Giselle
January 31st, 2007 at 9:31 am
B’Day is in the top 10 because of Irreplaceable, a song she didn’t even write. Out of 10 songs on her cd its about 4 songs listenable. You have your opinions and we have ours. Have a great day ;-)
Chanté
January 31st, 2007 at 10:09 am
“AND to the PERSON who said her CD was a disappointment, then why is it still in the TOP 10 so many months later and why is her Irreplaceable song #1 for 8 weeks.”
LMAO. The spice girls did that, Nsync did that, they never made quality music. Sales and charts don’t reflect the quality of a song or album.
Chanté
January 31st, 2007 at 10:09 am
B-Day is a disappointment I agree with this.
cltim
January 31st, 2007 at 1:16 pm
ok so if BDAY is a disappntmnt…then its not beyonce’s fault …lik yall said she didn write some of the songs…she wanted to try something new by listening to song wrtrs and producers and putting it in their hands..when she wrote DANGEROUSLY in LOVE it was a huge success…SO blame it on the song wr and prod not beyonce she was jus trying to bring you (her fans) a differ sound that you woodn expect…
Black
January 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Thank you #25 and you all have an amazing day!!! LOL
henry
January 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
ok so this article has nothing to do with her cd… i dont like or dislike the cd… but thats besides the point… what she did wasnt cool…
fashionista
January 31st, 2007 at 3:49 pm
This whole thing makes since!
She went public saying the she is going on a nationwide search for new dancers (upcoming).
Of course 80% of the dancers that are auditioning are not with an agency, so therefore it will be cheaper for her!
By no means necessary this makes her a bad person. Let her do her, atleast she’s not on her cell phone and coming her bad weave while driving and then CAUSED a massive 3 car car crash that killed a WOMAN.
Come on!!!
Educate yourself, and stop worry about a celebrity that end the end her only job is to make good music. Not help pay for your car, your hair, clothes, food ,kids, pet, hospital bills, etc.
Beyonce and hell all her great grand children is already set financially. Are you???
Chanté
January 31st, 2007 at 5:03 pm
“SO blame it on the song wr and prod not beyonce she was jus trying to bring you (her fans) a differ sound that you woodn expect…”
So Beyonce is the eternal VICTIM? SHE chose the songs, SHE chose the productions, SHE chose to do that in 2 weeks. This is like saying I choose a dress and buy it, and the dress looks ugly on me and SAW how it looked on me in the store but I’m blaming the store and not myself for buying it because that was their article. She gonna blame the producers when SHE heard the productions before buying them and putting them on her record? PLEASE! Beyonce is to blame for everything this time because she made all those decisions and chose everything for her new album. SHE wanted to try something different and SHE chose everything. SHE is to blame for HER choices.
cltim
January 31st, 2007 at 11:20 pm
hahalol to #29 for copy/pasting what i wrote..that was too funny …i personally like the songs on BDAY and its doub plat so obviously other ppl like it too…and im done with this topic b/c its pointless to argue about a successful (doub plat) album that is supposedly a disappntmnt…besides #28 comment made me realize something more important…BEYONCE HAS (NOW) 30 comments 10 more than BRANDY who (accdntly) killed someone…. BRANDY should have 3,000 comments lol…im apart of this as well ….beyonce beyonce beyonce.need to be on brandy’s page
what do we care more about: >>>>dancers vs. car crash victim
winner: dancers
haha this is not right, america lets wake up
Chanté
February 1st, 2007 at 4:22 am
Yeah 2 million loved it but the other 2 or 3 million buyers of her first album OBVIOUSLY didn’t and that speaks volume HAHA. Let’s see if you’re really done with this topic or if you will respond, or maybe you’ll use another name. hahaha
malcolm
February 1st, 2007 at 5:44 am
I hate agency. i worked for an agency. I was making $22.00 /hr i was just wondering how much the agency is getting . I wish they company would have payed me direct mabe i could have goten $25. because the agency was getting around $35.00
malcolm
February 1st, 2007 at 5:57 am
Janet, Fantasia, Monica And Xtina would love to have Bday numbers 2X Platium will be 3x platium soon . 4X platium worldwide. After 5 months the album is still in the top 20.
She’s shooting 5 video because she will be re-releasing Bday with new songs some in spanish . she also have a song with Shakira.
Giselle
February 1st, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I heard about that song with Shakira. That’s lame! I know this is so off subject but an R&B singer doing latin? LOL only Christina Aguilera can do that, obviously. And one more thing its sad to see people with good albums get no shine because everyone is hyped up about some dumb stuff. Monica, Fantasia, Tamia and so many others have great albums but get no shine. Its sad.
Chanté
February 1st, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Malcolm she still sold less. She would love to have sold as much as Norah Jones who sold 15 million records with her first cd and 18 with her second without so much hype.
Chanté
February 1st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
And as Giselle say, Monica, Fantasia and Tamia get no shine. Janet had her peak and it was over 10 million worldwide with one cd “Janet”, more than Beyonce. Norah sells more with no hype. Beyonce is stuggling so much she has to spend money on 5 other videos and a re-release to hype the album up again.
*DRE*
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Giselle,
You are so right..I bought Monica’s album and it was hot!….And Beyonce re-releasing B’Day in spanish in stupid seeing how she’s a black women….I hate it when you have so many taleneted female r&b singers like Mya,Monica,Tamia,and Fantasia get overlooked by this so called “superstar” who couldn’t even release a decent album…maybe if she wasn’t worried too much about Dreamgirls, which Jennifer Hudson out shined her, then she could’ve made a better album.People give this girl way too much credit..yeah she can sing but that’s about it…My personal favorites are Mya(because she can sing and she’s the hottest female dancer in the game..and don’t think Ciara can top her)Monica, because she has one of the most original most beautifyl voices, and Alicia Keys because that girl can sang
*DRE*
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:25 pm
# 23 (Chante) you need to correct yourself when you say her Irreplaceable song…you mean Ne-Yo’s song because he’s the one who wrote the entire song..just because she added the harmonies doesn’t mean it make it her song.Her next cd better be fiya or else she will lose alot more fans….I think she can sing but I will never buy her music..I’m a dedicated fan of Mya,Monica,Alicia Keys and I want to see Mya and Monica get the respect they deserve
DIVINE STYLER
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:30 am
Leave it to Beyonce to do some union-busting. That’d make her akin to ol’ Ronald Reagan. Fucking asshole. Whatsa matter? Don’t make enough money?
RnB 4 Life
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Who are TMZ’s sources, their grandmothers?
Strawberri
February 4th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I don’t see anything wrong with re-creating an album to cater to another class of people, especially when you are re-creating the album featuring an artist that you admire and respect Beyonce is a fan of Shakira and you are only promised this life so why not have fun, but I will say other talented artist get washed away, but I don’t feel that’s Beyonce’s fault if other artist made it their business to stay in the spot-light and bring their A game they would be aknowledged as well, no matter how much media play or reconition Beyonce gets it all comes down to who buys her stuff, so don’t knock “B” buy ten of Tamia, or Monica’s albums so that their media time will become an upgrade…this is not a diss to the above comments, but it certainly triggered a response out of me.
Anonymous
February 5th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Some people are so narrow minded. Have you ever stopped to think about Beyonce created an album to attract a broader audience and that’s why she had others write with her or for her…there’s no better way to think outside the box than collaborating creative minds. Now as far as the dancers are concerned they have a mind and they know if their being cheated so let them handle that.
Giselle
February 5th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I can’t believe people are still talking about this…..
Giselle
February 5th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Strawberri…those women I mentioned could possibly step their game up but their record company’s don’t promote them well at all. I’m sure Beyonce’s “B’Day” promotion was well over a million dollars. Sadly enough, Music World (Matthew Knowles’ Company) doesn’t invest in anyone else on the label. Did you see how Sunshine Anderson’s album did? And poor Kelly Rowland should just leave….anyway what I’m trying to say is not everybody gets promoted as well as Beyonce.
Strawberri
February 5th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Okay I can agree with a portion of that, but most record labels are not going to invest in artist that are not guaranteed to bring in bank and truth be told Beyonce brings in bank. Now I will agree that management don’t give too many second chances, but you got to look at it as each chance costs money and if management can’t collect a profit there goes Tamia or whoever extra promotions, I’m a fan of Tamia too and like I said before if you are a fan and you want to see more of her we have to buy more of her albums to equal “B” record sells to make up for the people who don’t buy Tamia’s album and what good does that do for us. Beyonce just have way more fans. PS. Late comment because I purposely ignored this page at first but when I read some of these comments I had to add my 2 cent.
Black
February 7th, 2007 at 8:57 am
#38 that is really stupid, I dont care if Beyonce wrote the period at the end of irreplaceable, if her name is credited on the song then she is going to get some of the royalties for the song, PLUS SHE SINGS THE HELL OUT OF IT!! But still only SMART artist know to have their name on every song on their album, THAT’s GOOD BUSINESS!! And Beyonce has created great songs, won many awards and sold MILLIONS of albums so any dancer wanting to hype up there career will do whatever!! The learning experience and the mention of Beyonce on your resume would get you in the door of alot of places… SO TO DANCERS who are up and coming TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY!! To dancers who want more money, DONT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY!! MOVE ALONG PEOPLE, Cant we all just get along!! HAHAHAHAHA :)
college sex party
April 21st, 2007 at 3:36 pm
college sex party…
college sex party start page…
summer sunbathing
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:09 am
summer sunbathing…
The summer sunbathing…
gag ring
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:45 am
gag ring…
The best of gag ring….
casserole dish pyrex
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
casserole dish pyrex…
Fresh information about casserole dish pyrex….
small tit sex
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:23 pm
small tit sex…
Of small tit sex and more…