Lady Gaga Career Over? Artist Parts Ways With Longtime Manager Troy Carter Over 'Creative Differences'

It's being reported that Lady Gaga and longtime manager Troy Carter have parted their ways. The split came after Gaga's bizarre performance at the YouTube Music Awards on Sunday, where the pop star delivered a questionable performance, which The Los Angeles Times described as "deeply strange and out-of-tune." The singer took the stage to sing her somber ballad "Dope" from her new album, ARTPOP, choosing a plain flannel shirt, sunglasses and a trucker hat over her typical outlandish outfits. She sat alone at a piano, with the camera tight on her face. She removed the glasses to reveal tears on her face as she sang. However, people didn't seem to like her over emotional act, and according to the L.A. Times, more than 4,000 viewers exited out of their browsers during Gaga's performance.

Although it hasn't been reported who was the one to break off the partnership, or if the performance had anything to do with it at all, many seem to think this breakup could harm Lady Gaga's career. Billboard reported that Carter would often describe their relationship as a simple matter of balancing creative and business decisions -- she makes 95 percent of the creative calls, while he handles five percent; He makes 95 percent of the business decisions, and she makes five. He was initially recruited by Vincent Herbert in 2007 to represent the pop diva. "She was very specific about her vision, all of the music was there, and all she needed was someone to help her translate it to the rest of the world, which is where I came in," Carter said of his first meeting with Gaga in an interview earlier this year.

Showbiz 411, who first reported the split, claims it was over "creative differences," but adds that a source told them "Gaga doesn't take direction anymore" and she has been refusing Carter's advice for a while now. "It's sad but also liberating at the same time," a source close to both parties told Us Weekly of the split. "One door closes and another opens." Carter is also doing great, he manages John Legend, Lindsey Stirling and Mindless Behavior, among others, and his Atom Factory Records recently signed a joint venture deal with Capitol Music Group. The 40-year-old businessman also invests in Uber, Spotify, and Dropbox, so he's got his hands full even without Gaga.

As for the singer, ARTPOP, which was leaked on Monday, has received great critics, with Billboard giving it an 84. However, Gaga's likeness with her audience is decreasing, and without Carter to help her on the ARTPOP campaign --he's reportedly credited as the reason for Gaga's overwhelming success on social media-- many fear that although the new music is good, she won't have the same success as fans are getting tired of her old antics and she needs to figure her act out. What do you think? Will you buy Lady Gaga's new album or is she too 2008 for you?