Avicii’s Former Manager Sues Family Over Documentary Treatment

Ash Pournouri, the former manager who oversaw the meteoric rise of the late DJ and producer Avicii (Tim Bergling) from 2008 until late 2016, has initiated legal proceedings in the Swedish courts. Pournouri, a music executive, record producer, and talent manager, was instrumental in transforming Avicii into a global EDM superstar with hits like ‘Levels’ and ‘Wake Me Up’. Following Avicii’s tragic death in 2018, Pournouri has faced significant public scrutiny and blame, often fueled by various documentaries and narratives that have surfaced regarding Avicii’s struggles with mental and physical health. Pournouri and Avicii parted ways in December 2016. In a public statement, Pournouri confirmed the action, which he stressed is not intended to seek financial compensation, but is “solely to set the factual record straight” and correct an “inaccurate and incomplete public narrative” surrounding his professional environment during their time together. Seeking Clarity, Not Compensation Pournouri claims the false public record has become “cemented as truth” and that he has absorbed unwarranted blame and misdirected attacks for over seven years while waiting for others involved to correct the narrative. After repeated private requests for correction went unanswered, he asserts that a court filing—made with the assistance of Nord Advokater and King’s Counsel Zafar Ali and Kartik Sharma—is the final resort to compel the truth. “Court is the only venue that compels the truth to surface,” Pournouri stated. He explained that a court process creates disclosure, forces sworn testimony, and results in an official record grounded in factual reality, thereby preventing “PR spin” or editing for story or profit. His legal team has compiled a witness list of approximately 50 individuals, many of whom he claims were previously silenced by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or fear. Pournouri was clear that the legal action is not a direct attack on the Bergling family, but a necessary step to correct the public record. He acknowledged that some disclosures might be “uncomfortable” but insisted they reflect the circumstances kept from the public, which have caused him “significant harm and public blame“. Demands for Accountability and Transparency While the action is not driven by profit, Pournouri outlined specific remedies he is seeking: Clarity and Accountability: A complete factual record and a declaratory ruling on the established facts. Stewardship Standards: Injunctive relief to set use and stewardship standards for how Avicii’s legacy is handled, including consent rights on defined categories to protect its integrity. Corrections and Audits: Written corrections and retractions where the public was misled, and an independent audit of commercialization tied to charity claims. Although Swedish court procedure requires a nominal damages figure for a declaratory case, Pournouri confirmed that any damages awarded would go directly to “real charitable causes“, emphasizing the action is about the record, not profit. Pournouri concluded by addressing the emotional nature of the case, promising to limit disclosures to only what is necessary to establish facts—focusing on decisions, documents, and timelines—and avoiding private or medical details unless absolutely forced to. He holds “hours of unedited recordings” but is withholding them to avoid causing public destruction to others, stating that he will release the uncensored footage only if the opposing side resorts to “more denial“. *Cover image credit: Gustav Gräll The post Avicii’s Former Manager Sues Family Over Documentary Treatment appeared first on EDMTunes.