Raven’s Sorrow Sues Sylvia Massy-Shivy. Really?

Interesting news article from my current employer, Courthouse News Service. I’d love to hear Mrs. Massy-Shivy’s side of this story. I’m sure there is one! Here is a link to the complaint, for those interested in reading legal documents: Chrysalis

WEED, Calif. (CN) – A Boston-based rock band claims a record producer used her “big name” to lure them to her Northern California studio, took $33,000 to produce an album and then “completely disassociated herself” from the process.
A Raven’s Sorrow claims Sylvia Massy-Shivy also provided session players who did not have the right instruments, and an engineer who threatened to hurt their lead singer.
A Raven’s Sorrow claims Massy-Shivy contacted its lead singer and offered to produce the band’s album, “Chrysalis” at her Radiostar Studios in Weed.
“Massy-Shivy has produced albums for several major name rock bands,” according to the complaint in Siskiyou County Court.
“Furthermore, Sylvia Massy-Shivy represented to Mr. [Jeffrey] Glazier that as part of her services to produce the ‘Chrysalis’ album, and based on her name recognition within the recording industry in America, she would promote the business interests of A Raven’s Sorrow, including making introductions to record labels, promoters and other individuals in the music industry.”
The band says it paid Massy-Shivy $33,000 for 35 days of studio time, including “preproduction services, and lodging, with twenty-four (24) hour access to the studio,” plus engineering and musical arrangement services.
Her studio, co-defendant Radiostar Studios, agreed to book session players, the band says.
But no. “Immediately after Radiostar Studios received payment from A Raven’s Sorrow, Radiostar Studios essentially and effectively ceased all pre-production work on the Chrysalis album,” and Sylvia Massy-Shivy “disengaged in communication with the entire A Raven’s Sorrow band for approximately three (3) months,” according to the complaint.
“Sylvia Massy-Shivy completely disassociated herself with the production of the Chrysalis album, materially breaching her obligations under the production agreement,” the band says. It claims that “the session players Radiostar Studios arranged were not prepared, had not adequately practiced,” and did not even have “the requisite instruments required to play the parts.”
A Raven’s Sorrow claims that the engineer the studio provided acknowledged that “his engineering skills were lacking and not at a high level, as was required.” And it claims that the engineer “threatened physical violence on Mr. Glazier, while Mr. Glazier was walking in the streets of Weed, California.”
Glazier is band’s the lead singer and principal songwriter.
The band adds: “Sylvia Massy-Shivy actively refused to listen to most of the recorded material, stating that she would hear it during the mixing process.”
In sum, the band says: “Sylvia Massy-Shivy lured recording artists into her recording studio, based on her name, and ‘big name’ reputation in the music industry, obtained substantial sums of monies from bands, and then immediately proceeded to the next band, breaching her contractual obligations and promises.”
The band seeks at least $500,000 in damages for breach of contract, fraud, and negligence. Defendants include Sylvia Massy-Shivy, her husband and business partner Gregory Shivy, and their company Radiostar Studios.
A Raven’s Sorrow is represented by Sacramento attorney Richard Margarita.

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17 Comments

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17 Responses to Raven’s Sorrow Sues Sylvia Massy-Shivy. Really?

  1. Jake

    Some of you guys most know this clown, right? I can’t imagine trying to record these guys! utterly impossible

  2. Jake

    I really should clarify myself. I live in Boston, no one who lives anywhere else would have any reason to have heard of A Ravens Sorrow. I had the misfortune to witness a “performance” of theirs once and stood slack jawed at the atonal overwrought monotony. I would love to hear the particulars of recording with Jeff G, he seems legitimately mentally ill.

  3. Andre

    In all fairness, I don’t agree with Jeff Glazier’s views or actions, but he does have a case against Massy. Every band that is interested in working with Radiostar Studios and Sylvia Massy should know that she is notorious for rarely being present during the production process, her engineers do all the producing. She is only present about 90% of the time, only to track drums and lead vocals. Her rates are ridiculously marked up and her engineers get shafted big time. That studio suffers from a high engineer turnover rate because she only pays about 5% of what she charges bands to the engineers. Wish Mr. Glazier luck on his case, as well as others who have legit cases against Sylvia Massy.

  4. Sam

    Andre is correct. Sylvia basically screws any band that she works with along with screwing her engineers which is why no one sticks around for a very long time. People wonder why she ever left LA in the first place. It was because no would work with her there because she built herself such an awful business reputation. Good luck Jeff! While I don’t know a lot about your case I do know that karma is a bitch and Sylvia is due.

  5. JeffG

    I don’t think JEFF can Sing or play reasonable well… whether Sylvia is there or not that doesn’t change

  6. Sam

    Jeff cannot sing well, and just Sylvia being there would not improve his ability, just like her being there wouldn’t improve anyone’s natural ability to sing. However Jeff Glazier PAID for Sylvia to be there and she wasn’t. He deserves his money back. It would be like enrolling and paying for a college course where the instructor NEVER showed up or had any input in what was happening or hiring an event planner who never showed up to the event!

  7. Rick W

    I have recorded at Radio Star in Weed with Sylvia and can say that based on my experience with her these allegations seem out of character. She was professional, did her job extremely well, and spent so much time with us in and out of the studio that we felt like family. She even took us city boys to a demolition derby.
    It sounds to me like this guy is a flake.

  8. ThatGal

    Read the complaint. Looked up the case. It’s now closed, settled, and part of open records for anyone who’s interested (Link: http://www.siskiyou.courts.ca.gov/CaseInfo.asp). Regardless of whether or not you like the band, the results of the suit are clear: A Raven’s Sorrow was completely in the right, granted money for lack of service, as Sylvia Massy-Shivy did not provide services promised. The very fact that the settlement included that the case remain accessible to the public shows how deep she was in. No person with any kind of leverage would allow the public access to look up their case.

  9. That link does not work. I would like to read it, so please provide a correct on. As far as “completely in the right,” remember that any judgment by a court is just that: a judgment. It never means that anyone was completely in the right, it just means that one party proved something more than the other. As far as “No person with any kind of leverage…,” I’m quite sure that being able to control cases being public access is not really possible unless you are incredibly high up on the political food chain. I still maintain that my experiences with here were professional and positive. I look forward to reading the actual case files versus just reading someone’s take on it.

  10. Sam

    http://www.siskiyou.courts.ca.gov/CaseHistory.asp

    If you go there and search for her name you will find the case. You will have to navigate through some other case numbers but it is there.

    She also just screwed over the town in which she operated RadioStar. From what I’m told she told the town she wanted to raise funds for them and sold tickets at a crazy price only for a flop of a festival. The town received zero dollars from the mess. Many bands that I know that played were not paid as promised as well as sound engineers and others who worked the event.

    You can also use the above link to look up a court case against her (her name is spelled wrong in that case, so search for last name “shivey”). It is going to jury in January because she screwed someone else over royally.

    Looks like she’s sinking fast…

  11. Not Jeff G

    Case Information

    A RAVENS SORROW VS,MASSY-SHIVY,SYLVIA ETAL
    What was the settlement?

    Case Number:
    SCSCCVCV110000636
    Case Type:
    CIVIL COMPLAINTS

    Location:
    DEPARTMENT 4
    Filing Date:
    5/9/2011

    Case Status:
    Final

    Party Information – (In Pro Per – means represents self)

    Plaintiff/Petitioner:
    Defendant/Respondent:

    Plaintiff/Petitioner: A RAVEN’S SORROW LLC

    Plaintiff/Petitioner: MASSY-SHIVY SYLVIA

    Attorney: MICHAEL WELLS
    Bar#:
    000000104146
    Attorney: RICHARD MARGARITA
    Bar#:
    000000175819

    Defendant/Respondent: SHIVY GREGORY
    PO BOX 63
    VACAVILLE, CA 95696-0063

    Attorney: IN PRO PER
    Bar#:
    None
    Attorney: MICHAEL WELLS
    Bar#:
    000000104146
    Attorney: RICHARD MARGARITA
    Bar#:
    000000175819

    Party Status:
    Closed

    Case Proceedings

    Entry Date
    Description
    Court Date

    5/18/2012
    OTHER DISMISSAL
    OTHER DISMISSAL W/PREJUDICE AS TO COMPLAINT & CROSS- COMPLAINT AND ENTIRE ACTION AND ALL PARTIES & CAUSES. FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR PLTF & SIGNED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEF/RD

    5/18/2012
    FINAL CLOSING

    5/18/2012
    NOTICE OF
    NOTICE OF PLTF’S FILING OF REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE FILING OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND DECL. OF RICHARD P. MAGARITA. (RD)FAX FILED THRU OPAY

    5/18/2012
    PRF SERVICE
    PROOF OF SERVICE AS TO NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT OF ENTIRE CASE AND REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL SERVED BY FAX ON 5/17/12. FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR PLTF. (RD)

    5/17/2012
    NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT
    NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT OF ENTIRE CASE. UNCONDITIONAL 4/26/12. FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR PLTF. (RD)

    5/10/2012
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEF’S SHIVY’S & RADIOSTAR STUDIOS/RD

    5/10/2012
    PRF SERVICE MAIL
    PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEFS SERVED CMCS ON RICHARD MARGARITA BY MAIL ON 5/10/12. (RD)

    5/4/2012
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY MA RGARITA FOR PLNTFF (JC)

    4/13/2012
    SUMMONS ISSUED
    SUMMONS ISSUED AMENDED

    4/12/2012
    ANS TO CROSS/COMP
    ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO AMENDED CROSS COML AINT/ FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR XDFT/PLNTFF (JC)

    3/14/2012
    PRF SERVICE MAIL
    PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEFS SYLVIA MASSY-SHIVY,GREG SHIVY & RADIOSTAR STUDIOS. SERVED:RICHARD MARGARITA ON 3/13/12 WITH STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR LEAVE TO FILE FIRST AMENDED X-COMPLAINT ;FIRST AMENDED X-COMPLAINT OF SYLVIA MASSY-SHIVY DBA RADIOSTAR STUDIOS LLC. (RD)

    3/13/2012
    AMENDED CROSS/COMPL
    AMENDED CROSS-COMPLAINT FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEF/ X-COMPLAINANTS/RD

    3/12/2012
    STIPULATION
    STIPULATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR PLTF. (RD) SIGNED BY JUDGE MASUNAGA

    3/12/2012
    STIPULATION
    STIPULATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE FIRST AMENDED CROSS- COMPLAINT. FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEFENDANTS/RD SIGNED BY JUDGE MASUNAGA

    3/12/2012
    AMENDED COMP/INFO
    FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED BY ATTTY MARGARITA FOR PLNTFF (JC)

    3/12/2012
    FILE LOCATION
    FILE CAN BE LOCATED AT MASUNAGA OFFICE FOR SIGNATURE ON ORDERS/RD BACK IN CIVIL/RD

    3/12/2012
    PRF SERVICE
    PROOF OF SERVICE AS TO STIPULATION TO AMEND COMPLAINT . PERSON SERVED: MICHAEL H. WELLS. SERVICE BY MAIL ON 03-10-12 BY RICHARD P. MARGARITA. (DW)

    3/12/2012
    LETTER RECEIVED
    LETTER RECEIVED FROM RICHARD MARGARITA RE: REMOVAL OF MOTION FOR AMENDED COMPAINT FOR MARCH 12, 2012, IN L IGHT OF STIP TO AMEND. (DW)

    3/12/2012
    PHONE CALL MADE
    PHONE CALL MADE TO OFFICE OF RICHARD MARGARITA TO ADV ISE FAX FILING REQUIRING A FEE MUST GO THROUGH OFFICA L PAYMENTS. STIPULATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE FIRST AMEND ED COMPLAINT REQUIRES A $20 FEE. (DW)

    2/7/2012
    MOT LEAVE TO AMEND
    MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMENDMENT /NOTIC OF MOTION, MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND COMPLAINT; DECLARATION OF R ICHARD P. MARGARITA IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR ORDER GR ANTING LEAVE TO AMEND COMPLAINT; POINTS AND AUTHORITI ES. (DW)
    03/13/12

    2/7/2012
    ADDITIONAL CMC
    ADDITIONAL CMC NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT FILED/
    05/22/12

    1/27/2012
    PRF SERVICE MAIL
    PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEF, SHIVYS & RADIOSTAR STUDIOS. SERVED CASE MGMT STMT ON ATTY MARGARITA BY MAIL ON 1/25/12. (R)D

    1/25/2012
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY WELLS FOR DEF, SHIVY’S & RADIOSTAR STUDIOS/RD

    1/13/2012
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY MA RGARITA FOR PLNT (JC)

    9/27/2011
    ADDITIONAL CMC
    ADDITIONAL CMC CONT FROM 9/27/11 (DIXON/JC/N PFEIFFER) CO R MARGARITA PRES FOR PLNT/ C O M WELLS PRES FOR DFT/XCC/ CONT ACC 5/22/12 (JC)
    02/07/12

    9/19/2011
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY CO WELLS FOR DFDTS (EFF)

    9/19/2011
    PRF SERVICE
    PROOF OF SERVICE AS TO CASE MNGMT STMT SERVED VIA FIR ST CLASS MAIL TO CO RICHARD MARGARIT (EFF)

    9/12/2011
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR PLTF. (RD)

    9/6/2011
    CASE MGMT CONF STMT
    CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT FILED BY ATTY MA RGARITA FOR PLNT (JC)

    9/6/2011
    PRF SERVICE
    PROOF OF SERVICE AS TO CASE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT/ SVC BY ATTY MICHAEL WELLS/ BY FAX ON 09/06/11 (JC)

    7/12/2011
    ANS TO CROSS/COMP
    ANSWER TO CROSS-COMPLAINT FILED BY ATTY MARGARITA FOR RAVEN’S SORROW, LLC./ANSWER & AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES. (RD)

    6/28/2011
    PRF SERVICE
    PROOF OF SERVICE AS TO ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE S, SUMMONS CROSS-COMMPLAINT. PERSON SERVED: RICHARD M ARGARITA. SERVICE BY MAIL ON 06-27-11 BY CYNDY PORTEO US. (DW)

    6/13/2011
    PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE
    PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE FILED BY ATTY MIKE WELLS FOR DEFS, SYLVIA MASSY-SHIVY, GREGORY SHIVY DBA RADIOSTAR STUDIOS;RADIOSTAR STUDIOS, LLC ON JUDGE LAURA MASUNAGA. SIGNED BY JUDGE MASUNAGA. (RD)

    6/13/2011
    PEREMPT CHAL ORDER
    PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE ORDER AGAINST LAURA MASUNAGA.RD

    6/10/2011
    FILE LOCATION
    FILE CAN BE LOCATED AT MASUNAGA OFFICE FOR SIGNATURE ON PEREMPTORY. (RD) back in civil

    6/9/2011
    CROSS COMPLAINT
    CROSS COMPLAINT FILED BY ATTY MIKE WELLS FOR CROSS-COMPLAINANT, SYLVIA MASSY-SHIVY DBA RADIOSTAR STUDIOS, LLC. (RD)

    6/9/2011
    SUMMONS ISSUED
    SUMMONS ISSUED FOR CROSS-COMPLAINT

    6/9/2011
    ANSWER
    ANSWER FILED BY ATTY MIKE WELLS FOR DEF’S SYLVIA MASSY-SHIVY, GREGORY SHIVY IND & DBA RADIOSTAR STUDIO S & RADIOSTAR STUDIOS LLC. (RD) PAID $1185

    5/9/2011
    INITIATE CIVIL COMPL
    INITIATE CIVIL COMPLAINT

    5/9/2011
    COMPLAINT
    COMPLAINT (GENERAL OR GOVERNMENTAL)

    5/9/2011
    CIVIL COVER SHEET
    CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET FILED

    5/9/2011
    SUMMONS ISSUED
    SUMMONS ISSUED

    5/9/2011
    FIRST CIVIL REVIEW
    FIRST CIVIL REVIEW NO ACTION NEEDED
    08/09/11

    5/9/2011
    CASE MGMT/PR/TR CONF
    CASE MANAGEMENT/PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE DIXON/CRD/D-4/C.RICHARD MARGARITA PRES TELE/C.MIKE WELLS PRES FOR DEF/C.MARGARITA STATES DISCOVERY TO BE COMPLETED BY NOV/C.WELLS STATES DISCOVERY WILL BE DONE BY JAN/CONT TO 2/7/12 @ 3:30PM FOR ACMC/TELE APP /CM-110 DUE/RD
    09/27/11

  12. I also recorded with Sylvia Massy and found the exact opposite to be true. She, her husband, and our engineer bent over backwards for us. I found her services to be cheaper than some other big studios, and she provided a session drummer who was phenomenal (Dave Watt). I do not have a single complaint or bad impression from anyone who works there, and would return in a heartbeat to record again with her/them.

    I think a lot of the time when a band encounters problems, it is more to do with the band than the producer. Often bands don’t show up prepared, expect the world, demand perfection that they don’t themselves deliver, and have egos the size of the moon. As I’ve come to known Sylvia over the years, I would bet that this band meets a few of those criteria. Either that, or maybe they were really just a bunch of assholes.

    At any rate, nobody knows both sides of the story here, so nobody should be quick to judge. After all, a LOT of artists are satisfied with her/their work. Like me.

  13. Karma

    I worked there in unsanitary conditions with a disgruntled staff. Paychecks were constantly bouncing if there was any pay at all. She dangles meat in front of every engineer that walks through there promising sessions and work and giving next to nothing. She was NOT at most of the sessions, except drum tracking and did not give her full attention as an engineer at those sessions. I could not get paid without begging most of the time for my check. She abuses every person around her. All you have to do is stay there for more than a month and try to earn money from her rather than give her money and you’ll see that side. She is a psychopathically insane greedy bitch. If you don’t know that, it is because you do not know her. She is great at putting on an act for bands, and the staff isn’t about to tell the bands the truth of the nature of that place. If you sympathize with her, its because you saw her fake side. Get to know the crazy in her and you’ll want to kill yourself (just like 2 of her staff already did in the last 4 years). She is pure evil and I love hearing about all these people suing her for she truly deserves to be broke after ripping so many off.

    • Angelfire

      Wow. I have to call bullshit on that one. Sylvia is a genuine person and artist and has gone out of her way to always be accommodating to each band she works with and each person on her staff.

  14. Cindie

    Just spent the last 2 weeks at the studio for recording sessions. ( My daughters band is producing an album there now). This was the first time I have ever met Sylvia, but she was very kind, helpful and pleasant. We were all very impressed with her ( and assistant’s) work ethic. They were always there early, stayed all day and left late. We were told 10 hour days for production and with their encourgement it was often 11 hours.

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