Dr. Luke named Songwriter of the Year hours before Kesha released new album Gag Order - after pair battled it out in court over sexual abuse allegations
Dr. Luke was named ASCAP’s pop music Songwriter of the Year of the year on Wednesday - just hours before Ke$ha released new album Gag Order - amid their court battle over sexual abuse allegations.
The record producer, full name Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, 49, was recognized at a private party at Yamashiro Hollywood in Los Angeles, marking his third win in that category.
He scooped the accolade based on the radio airplay and number of streams for his hits including Nicki Minaj's Super Freaky Girl and Doja Cat's Woman, Need To Know and You Right.
Kesha's newest album release on Thursday comes amid her long-running legal battle with her ex-producer Dr. Luke, who sued her in 2014 when she accused him of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
Dr.Luke's long-running defamation lawsuit against Kesha is set to go to trial in mid-July and last for a week.
![Battle: Dr. Luke was named ASCAP¿s pop music Songwriter of the Year of the year on Wednesday - just hours before Ke$ha released new album Gag Order - amid their court battle over sexual abuse allegations; Dr. Luke and Kesha seen in 2011](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/19/21/61887775-12104199-Battle_Dr_Luke_was_named_ASCAP_s_pop_music_Songwriter_of_the_Yea-a-13_1684527814973.jpg)
Battle: Dr. Luke was named ASCAP’s pop music Songwriter of the Year of the year on Wednesday - just hours before Ke$ha released new album Gag Order - amid their court battle over sexual abuse allegations; Dr. Luke and Kesha seen in 2011
Speaking to Rolling Stone recently about her album, Gag Order, Kesha shared: 'I feel like I'm giving birth to the most intimate thing I've ever created.'
The Woman singer - who bonded spiritually with the album's producer Rick Rubin - admits it was 'nerve-wracking' laying all of these 'uglier emotions' bare.
She continued: 'I really dug into some of my uglier emotions and sides of myself that are less fun.
'It's scary being vulnerable. The fact that I have compiled an entire record of these emotions, of anger, of insecurity, of anxiety, of grief, of pain, of regret, all of that is so nerve-racking — but it's also so healing.'
The album was made after the star had a "spiritual awakening", which she thought was a mental breakdown.
She recalled: 'I had this really beautiful, scary, and intense spiritual awakening where it felt like I was talking to my highest self, or God, whatever word you want to say.
'I fully thought I was having a mental breakdown. I called my therapist and my doctor. They all were like, "Oh, you had a spiritual awakening. Yay! Good job'',' Kesha said.
The legal battle first began in October 2014, when Kesha sued Dr. Luke for sexual assault and battery and claims his abusive behavior led to her developing an eating disorder.
![Win: The record producer, full name Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, 49, was recognized at a private party at Yamashiro Hollywood in Los Angeles, marking his third win in that category](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/19/21/71197275-12104199-image-a-9_1684526402158.jpg)
Win: The record producer, full name Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, 49, was recognized at a private party at Yamashiro Hollywood in Los Angeles, marking his third win in that category
![Kesha's newest album release on Thursday comes amid her long-running legal battle with her ex-producer Dr. Luke, who sued her in 2014 when she accused him of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/19/21/71197433-12104199-Kesha_s_newest_album_release_on_Thursday_comes_amid_her_long_run-a-12_1684527813873.jpg)
Kesha's newest album release on Thursday comes amid her long-running legal battle with her ex-producer Dr. Luke, who sued her in 2014 when she accused him of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
The singer claimed that Dr. Luke drugged and raped her back in 2005, and in 2016, she also publicly accused him of raping singer Katy Perry.
Dr. Luke fired right back with a defamation lawsuit of his own, claiming Kesha defamed him with her false claims, when she said in a text to Lady Gaga that Dr. Luke raped Katy Perry.
Perry denied that Dr. Luke raped her in a deposition and the judge ruled that Kesha defamed her former producer.
The judge also ruled that Kesha must pay Dr. Luke $373,000 in interest for her late payment to him for over $1.3 million in royalties.
Most watched News videos
- Moscow woman reports live: 'Where are we supposed to run to?'
- MPs in Commons react to plan to means test winter fuel payments
- Hairbrush and women's clothes found in tunnel where hostages died
- Audi fails to stop after hitting a pensioner in Keighley, Yorkshire
- Moment of 'Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack' on Moscow building
- Germany implements temporary border controls to combat migration
- Knife-wielding break-in suspect chases local after being confronted
- Princess Sofia shows baby bump at Parliament State Opening
- Princess Kate mirrors the late Queen driving in candid recovery video
- Ukrainian sniper fires at two Russian soldiers with grenade launchers
- Moment 'drunk' Brit and his wife are hauled off Ryanair flight
- Tory MP Robert Jenrick dodges Tory leadership 'dirty tricks' query