Virgin Sues 30 Seconds To Mars

On August 15, 2008, Virgin Records filed a $30 million lawsuit against the band 30 Seconds to Mars, for alleged breach of contract and damages. Virgin has accused the band of failing to deliver three of the five albums it promised under a 1999 contract agreement. The lawsuit also claims the band repudiated its contract in July 2008. California law allows entertainers to terminate their contracts after seven years.¹

Fast Facts

1. Virgin Records filed a 30 million dollar lawsuit against the band 30 Seconds to Mars¹
2. Record company is suing the band for alleged breach of contract and damages¹
3. Lawsuit claims the band terminated its contract in July 2008¹
4. 30 Seconds to Mars released its last album, A Beautiful Lie, in 2005²
5. Band signed a 1999 contract with Immortal Records¹
6. Virgin Records took over the contract in 2004¹

Jared Leto Fires Back

In a statement, 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto called the lawsuit "insane," adding that the band terminated its contract because "our representatives could not get EMI to agree to make a fair and reasonable deal." Leto also claims that the band has sold more than two million records and has "never been paid a penny."¹

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