SHOCKER: Lady Gaga Parts Ways with Manager Troy Carter

After a number of encounters with Troy Carter over the last few years, I’m convinced that he’s one of the smartest managers in the business right now.  

The guy has a very clear vision on not only today’s music market but the state of technology, social media and the future of entertainment consumption.  Lady Gaga would not be where she is today without Carter.

And now they’re splitting up?  Apparently.

Word is that they reached a creative differences impasse.  Gaga had her ideas for everything surrounding here ARTpop album which were allegedly unacceptable to Carter.  In hindsight, we can see how haphazard the launch of this record is compared to her previous albums.  Something isn’t right.  And now something is definitely broken.

Word is that Gaga fired Troy.  Does she think she’s too big to need his guidance anymore? Has she begun to believe her own hype? Is there a financial angle to the story?  Most certainly.  

Man, if I’m Universal (Gaga’s record label) I am freaking out this morning.  ARTpop (due out next Tuesday) supposed to be one of the label’s major releases for the all-important fourth quarter and a record that’s supposed to drive revenue through most of 2014.