It appears the situation surrounding Modular Records founder Steve “Pav” Pavlovic has just gained a new twist. In a follow-up to their initial report, The Australian has cited court documents which claim Pavlovic wrongfully retained label funds for his own benefit.

As Tone Deaf reported yesterday, Pavlovic is currently ensnared in an increasingly convoluted web of lawsuits, the most notable of which was filed by German publishing giant BMG, who are seeking missing royalties related to former Modular act Tame Impala totalling US$450,000 (AUD$588,150).

It was first reported that BMG cited Pavlovic, Modular, and the label’s co-owner, Universal Music, in their suit, which has been filed in a New York court. However, Universal Music Australia and Modular quickly distanced themselves from Pavlovic.

According to UMA, BMG’s agreement with Pavlovic was related to “a totally separate US-registered company” that he solely owned and operated. The organisation, they claimed, was not in any way affiliated with Universal or the Modular label.

Furthermore, it emerged that Pavlovic was also at the centre of more legal action, including an ongoing trademark dispute with Universal and Modular, and a separate suit filed by UMA in NSW Supreme Court, which lists Pavlovic, Angela Margaret Pavlovic, and Pavlovic Investments Pty Ltd as the defendants.

Now, The Australian is alleging that it wasn’t just money from Tame Impala’s overseas sales that found its way into the beleaguered music mogul’s hands. According to court documents filed by UMA, Pavlovic “wrongfully retained for his own benefit” money that a Modular artist gave him as an advance repayment.

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While the recipient of the advance has not been identified, the Modular roster once boasted some of Australia’s most prominent acts, including Tame Impala, The Presets, Cut Copy, Wolfmother, and Architecture In Helsinki, all of whom have since jumped ship.

The details of UMA’s suit against Pavlovic and co remain unclear and according to The Music, the label would not comment on the action. The case will reportedly be heard this Friday and overseen by Justice J Sackar.

The revelations about Pavlovic follow comments made by Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker back in May. During a Reddit AMA, Parker, who pens almost all of Tame Impala’s material, told fans that he had received “zero dollars” from all of Tame Impala’s record sales “outside of Australia”.

“Up until recently, from all of Tame Impala’s record sales outside of Australia I had received… zero dollars,” he said. “Someone high up spent the money before it got to me. I may never get that money.”

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