Avicii Estate Sued by Former Manager Ash Pournouri

Ash Pournouri, who managed Swedish DJ/producer Avicii (real name Tim Bergling) until 2016, is suing the estate of the late artist over reputational damage stemming from “misdirected attacks.”

Why it matters:

• In announcing the litigation on his Instagram account, Pournouri said he’s brought the lawsuit to “correct an inaccurate and incomplete public narrative concerning events within my professional environment around Avicii.”

Backstory:

• As Digital Music News reports, in the wake of Avicii’s 2018 passing the artist’s stepfather, Tommy Körberg, accused Pournouri of inflicting a grueling touring schedule on the DJ in the years prior to his suicide.

• He blamed Pournouri’s “greed” for Avicii’s death.

• That narrative was echoed in Netflix’s 2024 documentary Avicii – I’m Tim and Avicii’s 2021 biography.

Damages:

• Pournouri has said he will donate any awarded damages to charitable causes.

• He is seeking a “declaratory ruling on the facts” and “responsible stewardship” standards for the Avicii brand that include “either enforceable standards with independent oversight, or consent rights on defined categories to protect the legacy.”

• He adds: “This is about integrity, not ownership for its own sake.”