Gaga Dissolves Deal With Target, over the chain's controversial political donations

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Advocate

By Advocate.com Editors



A source close to Lady Gaga confirms to The Advocate that the entertainer has dissolved her deal with Target over the chain's controversial political donations. "She and Target didn't see eye to eye on Target's policy of political donations and how they affect the LGBT community," the source tells The Advocate exclusively.

The Advocate was tipped off that the deal had crumbled by Bob Witeck of Witeck-Combs Communications.

Target came under fire by LGBT activists last year when it was revealed the discount store chain had donated corporate funds to MN Forward, a political action committee that supported antigay candidate Tom Emmer in his failed 2010 run for governor of Minnesota.

Last month Gaga discussed the decision to partner with Target with Billboard magazine.

"That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting," Gaga told the music publication. "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past ... our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups."

Read more: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/03/08/Gaga_Dissolves_Deal_With_Target/

[Exultant Democracy]

1. Good for Gaga. The bright side of having f*ck you money.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Lady Gaga made an unannounced trip to Omaha last December

She came to spend Christmas with her boyfriends family. She went out in public with no make up, no people. Everybody that had contact with her talked about her in glowing terms in the local paper. This shows us all why!

K&R for the Lady.

[marasinghe]

9. she sure did this Target shoot in style; classy Lady. (n/t)

[queerart]

3. Many Thanks From The GLBTQI Community n/t

[shanti]

4. no to walmart, no to target

what's left, the 99 cent store? :shrug:

[davidinalameda]

5. Go Gaga!

gotta love her

[blackspade]

6. Good for Gaga.

Not a fan really, but her heart is in the right place and I don't disagree with her on LGBT issues.

[glinda]

7. Now will she go after the big asshole, Walmart? Or did she just give them more business?

[MattSh]

8. Yet she doesn't mind screwing others...

Photographers Respond to Lady Gaga's New Copyright Demands.
Gaga's strict release form gives her the rights to all photos taken at her concerts

Lady Gaga is now demanding that photographers surrender the copyright of photos taken at her concerts – and photographers are incensed.

Washington, D.C. website TBD.com made this practice public on Friday when they published the release form given to their photographer Jay Westcott. In addition to standard release restrictions regarding the use of images shot at her concerts, the document states that any photos taken at the show become the property of Lady Gaga. This an especially bold demand as the government has established that copyright exists the moment when a work is created, which in this case is the moment when a photographer clicks their shutter button.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/photographers-respond-to-lady-gagas-new-copyright-demands-20110307

[sweetloukillbot]

10. Those releases aren't uncommon...

I'm honestly not sure why the original website and Rolling Stone, which seems to have pretty much plagiarized the original story, is making a big deal about it. I've seen many such releases working as a music critic, Tool's being the one that sticks in my mind because it said something about owning the rights to the pictures on whatever planet or alternate universe may be discovered in the future. My newspapers policy was clear - we own the copyright to anything we shoot and if the band doesn't like that, we won't shoot it.

[avaistheone1]

11. That's what I think too

[sendero]

12. This is standard practice..

.. no performer wants ad hoc unauthorized pix of them performing being sold, and I don't blame them.

[Exultant Democracy]

15. At least she lets them take pictures, you can't at most concerts. This seems very fair.

[xchrom]

13. Awesome. nt

[myrna minx]

14. Tom Emmer (R - Stupid) would have given Scott Walker a run for his money

in the most loathed, most out of control fascist Governor. Thank god for Mark Dayton and thank you Lady Gaga!

[Travelman]

16. Interesting.

I didn't know about this. Target used to have a pretty good rating on buyblue.org. Unfortunately, I've been shopping there for a few years partially based upon that rating.

[Vehl]

17. I didn't know of this either

I have to review my shopping policy

[Travelman]

18. Lesson learned, I suppose

You can't let yourself get complacent on this stuff.

[Vehl]

20. Yep.

One would expect these huge retain chains to exercise better judgment...apparently they do not.

[Lucian]

19. What's worse: shopping at anti-union Walmart or shopping at...

anti-gay Target? I remember people who shopped at Target had a holier than thou attitude towards those who shopped at Walmart. The truth is, both companies suck equally.

Good for Gaga. I hate her music, but I like her as a person. :thumbsup:

[peacefreak]

21. Target is also vehemently anti-union

if that helps.

[classysassy]

22. A Star with Morals

Good for her,too bad more public figures don't speak out against the greed in the world.

[Alexander]

23. Target was founded by the Dayton family. Mark Dayton was the DFL candidate for governor.

He's been in Minnesota politics for the past 30 years, and won the race for governor in 2010.

George Dayton founded the Dayton's Dry Goods Store in 1902, which later became Dayton's Department Store, which later became Target. Mark Dayton is his grandson.

I find it ironic that a company once owned by his family would turn around and support his opponent in the Minnesota gubernatorial race.