Music entrepreneur Grace Borg is insisting on her managerial rights over Eurosong winner Thea Garrett and wants to be involved in her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ms Borg, owner of the Exotique record label, stressed that she was willing to amend Ms Garrett's contract and find a solution, after Public Broadcasting Services asked her to relinquish certain rights.
Until then, however, she warned that any other contracts signed by Ms Garrett would be in breach of her original contract with her company and subject to legal proceedings. If a solution was not reached, she added, she would refer the matter to the European Broadcasting Union that organises the Eurovision Song Contest.
Earlier this week, Ms Borg and a co-owner of the record label, Andrea Milana, filed a judicial protest against PBS.
They said that, in November 2009, they had signed a contract for the exclusive management of the artist, who will be representing Malta in the Eurovision with her song My Dream.
They claimed that, as organiser of Eurosong festival, PBS breached their exclusive rights when it asked Ms Garrett's management to concede certain rights.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Ms Borg said: "We are not doing anything to ruin Thea's chances... We are only trying to protect our label's rights."
She explained that Exotique had started working with Ms Garrett in summer after she placed second in a talent show. Since then, the label had invested a lot of money in creating opportunities to give her exposure. She was even sent to Rome and Milan and got to sing with Italian singer Gigi D'Alessio.
Meanwhile, PBS issued a call for applications for Eurovision coordinator and Ms Borg, the former Maltasong chairman, applied for the post. During the interview she was told that if selected she would have to give up any managerial contracts. So she chose to honour her commitment with Ms Garrett instead.
Ms Borg yesterday insisted that the contract was still valid. This meant that any companies that signed agreements in the name of Ms Garrett would be held liable in damages.
She also warned PBS that, once it decided to take responsibility for Ms Garrett's performance, it was exposing itself to further legal action. According to the existing contract, Exotique was still committed to ensuring Ms Garrett delivered a good product and could take legal action against PBS if it did not deliver. Ms Borg pointed out that it had already been established that, due to cost-cutting, there would be no music video.
She stressed that she was willing to discuss the matter to find a solution. In 2005, when she chaired the Maltasong, there was a similar issue with Chiara's managers. The issue was resolved by amending the management contract and involving the record label in the Eurovision.
A spokesman for PBS said the legal advice it had was that it was not doing anything wrong or illegal. Nevertheless, it would continue to strive to find a way forward and bring the two parties together.