Katy Perry’s A&R Says He Wanted Her To Work With Dr. Luke Again: ‘Every Single He’s Ever Done For Her Was No. 1’
Written by djfrosty on March 28, 2025
Last September, Katy Perry released her seventh album, 143. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, while lead single “Woman’s World” hit a No. 63 high on the Hot 100.
The song was co-written and co-produced by Lukasz Gottwald, known better as Dr. Luke, who worked on nine out of the album’s 11 tracks. Upon release, his involvement caused controversy as fans questioned why Perry would return to working with the producer — who Kesha previously and publicly accused of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse over a 10-year period. (Dr. Luke countersued for defamation, and in 2023 a settlement was reached.)
“I think there was some backlash for her reuniting with Dr. Luke,” Chris Anokute, who works as Perry’s A&R manager, said in his recent interview with The Manager’s Playbook. “[That] was my desire and recommendation.”
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During the interview, Anokute called Gottwald “a dear friend” and claimed that the many accusations leveled at the all the producer were “not true,” a fact that the producer himself has vehemently claimed over the last few years. “So I thought it was a good time to reunite them after 10 years of not working together and every single he’s ever done for her was No. 1,” Anokute said in the interview. “The press didn’t react favorably, and they basically tried to assassinate him and her.”
Dr. Luke previously worked on Perry hits including “I Kissed a Girl,” “Hot n Cold,” “California Girls,” “Dark Horse” and many more. Perry has collected nine Hot 100 No. 1s, with 36 songs in all on appearing on the tally.
On April 23, Perry will kick off her Lifetimes Tour, named after the second single from 143, in Mexico. The trek will hit the U.S. in May, opening in Houston. She’ll also visit Australia, Canada, South America and the UK and Europe, wrapping on November 11 in Madrid.
Check out Anokute’s full interview below: