Don't know who Jared Leto is, but I've heard of Virgin :

Jared Leto Lashes Virgin

Josh Grossberg Mon Aug 18, 7:55 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Jared Leto is keeping the eyeliner on for the foreseeable future.

The actor-musician-ladies' man has released a statement addressed to friends and fans making absolutely clear that his band, 30 Seconds to Mars, has no intention of breaking up—despite Virgin Records America suing the group for $30 million for failing to deliver on a five-album contract.

"We are incredibly happy, healthy and very much together here, in Los Angeles, recording our new record," the 36-year-old Leto says in a forum posting on 30 STM's Website. "Besides this ridiculously overblown lawsuit...we are having one of the most inspiring, wonderful and exciting times that we've experienced to date."

The suit claims that in July Leto and drum-banging bro Shannon "repudiated" a 1999 deal inked with the now-defunct indie label Immortal Records (which Virgin bought in 2004), obligating them to make three more albums beyond their 2002 self-titled debut and 2005 follow-up, A Beautiful Lie.

"So, as you may have heard we are being sued by our former record company for the ridiculously oversized, totally unrealistic and pretty silly (but slightly clever) sum of $30,000,000. Insane? Yea that's what we said too," says Leto, the band's singer, guitarist and chief songwriter.

He cites in their defense a California labor law that allows entertainers the right to terminate an agreement after seven years. The legislation was enacted to prevent the kind of indentured servitude that used to prevail in the movie and music biz.

"We had been signed to our record contract for 9 years," Leto continues. "Basically under California law, where we live and signed our deal, one cannot be bound to a contract for more than 7 years. This is widely known by all the record companies and has been for years. In fact, so aware of it are they that they desperately try to make deals outside of California whenever possible. It is a law that protects people from lengthy, unfair, career-spanning contracts."

After expressing his eternal gratitude toward Mars devotees, Leto alleges he was being sued "NOT for failing to deliver music or for 'quitting'...[but] simply because roughly 45 days ago we exercised our legal right to terminate our old, out of date contract, which, according to the law is null and void."

Even though the band never fulfilled the terms of its original pact, Leto claims the group, which also includes guitarist Tomo Milicevic, had "sold in excess of 2 million records" and never saw a penny. Leto says 30 Seconds to Mars' next record would've simply gone to paying off a $1.4 million debt.

"Shouldn't a record company be able to turn a profit from selling that many records? Or at the very least, break even? We think so."

Leto blames the suit on the new owners of Virgin's cash-strapped parent company, EMI, which he says has fired most of the employees who were instrumental in Mars' success.

Leto, who launched his Hollywood career on ABC's teen drama My So-Called Life, has averaged about one film a year. He appearead in 2004's Alexander and 2005's Lord of War and played John Lennon killer Mark David Chapman in last year's Chapter 27.

A rep for Virgin/EMI was not immediately available for comment on Leto's remarks.

Smashing Pumpkins Sue Virgin Records

Posted by aeschtunes on March 25, 2008

The Smashing Pumpkins have filed a lawsuit against Virgin Records, which claims the label has illegally used the band’s name and music in promotional deals that have hurt the band’s credibility with fans.

The breach-of-contract lawsuit claims that the only active agreement between the band and Virgin Records grants the label permission to sell digital downloads of the band’s songs; the band further claims this agreement does not give Virgin Records the right to use the band in promotional campaigns to sell outside products. Specifically mentioned in the lawsuit is the use of the band in Amazon.com and Pepsi Co.’s recent “Pepsi Stuff” promotion.

In the lawsuit, the band demands the Virgin pay with the profits earned in the promotion, and also asks for an injunction against using the Smashing Pumpkins’ name or music in the future.

Virgin/EMI Wrongfully Attempted to Poach Hawthorne Heights From Victory Records, Lawsuit Claims
Lawsuit by Top Independent Rock Label Seeks $35 million in Compensation and Damages

Mon Jan 14, 2008

NEW YORK, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin/EMI improperly induced
platinum-selling band Hawthorne Heights to repudiate its contract with top
independent label Victory Records, according to a lawsuit filed by the
independent company in federal court Monday.

Virgin/EMI went so far as to pay $55,000, which the band used to fund the initial phase of a 2006 lawsuit against Chicago-based Victory, and also assisted Hawthorne Heights in its search for a music-industry litigator, the lawsuit states.

"The facts alleged in this case demonstrate classic interference with
contractual and business relations," said Robert Meloni, a partner in the New York law firm Meloni & McCaffrey, representing Victory. "They did more than merely offer a carrot to the band, but also saddled the horse, paid for a rider to take the reins, and led it out of the barn."

The suit, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York,
seeks $10 million in compensation and $25 million in punitive damages for
Virgin/EMI's "willful, wanton and deliberate conduct."

The lawsuit describes the alleged tactics employed by a major music
company to poach a band after an independent music label's investment has made the band wildly successful.

Victory entered a four-album deal with the band in 2003 when Hawthorne Heights was an unknown band playing small venues in the Ohio area. The band subsequently recorded two studio albums: "The Silence in Black and White," which sold more than 1 million copies through Victory's substantial financial investment and aggressive and savvy marketing efforts; and "If Only You Were Lonely," which sold about half as many. The band remains obligated to deliver two more albums to Victory within a "reasonable time" during the remainder of the contract term, according to a May 16, 2007 federal court ruling in a separate action filed by the band against Victory in the U.S. District Court in Illinois. Despite that ruling, the band has vowed that they will not record for Victory, the suit filed Monday says. It has been two years since the band delivered an album to Victory.

The group's public announcement in August 2006 that it would no longer record for or work with Victory and the ensuing controversy -- along with a "shock and awe" legal and public relations campaign against the label and its founder, Tony Brummel -- drove down the sales of the second album, the suit says. As a result, retailers have returned more than 500,000 copies of the second album to Victory, which suffered "millions of dollars in damages for returned product alone," the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit describes the actions of three executives, all of whom remain with EMI. Director of A&R David Wolter first met with Hawthorne Heights' business advisor and lawyer, Daniel Friedman, and then brought in Virgin's Vice President of Business Affairs Jeffrey Kempler who "had experience in extracting bands from other independent labels," the lawsuit says. "Kempler also had an ax to grind with Victory, and Brummel in particular, as a result of past unrelated dealings with Brummel when Kempler was Senior VP of Business and Legal Affairs at Universal's Island Def Jam record label."

"Kempler then spearheaded a campaign to cause the Band to terminate the Victory Agreement and sign with Virgin Records/EMI. The first step was for Kempler to find and indoctrinate a litigator on behalf of the Band. The second step was for Virgin Records/EMI to fund the contemplated litigation needed to free the Band from its contract with Victory," the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges that Victory believes "both Kempler and Wolter
reported regularly to Jason Flom, Virgin's CEO, and kept him fully informed as they proceeded with each step of their plan to poach the Band from Victory."

After filing suit in Illinois federal court against Victory Records, the
band posted a "manifesto" against Victory on their website and relentlessly attacked Brummel. This was "intended to put Victory on the defensive ... so that Victory would be forced to submit to the Band's extortionate demand for an uncompensated release from the Victory Agreement," the suit says.

Though the band never recorded for Virgin/EMI for unrelated reasons, the lawsuit notes that "the Band's relationship with Victory has been irreconcilably cloven" and the damages to Victory had already occurred due to the actions of Virgin/EMI.

In January 2007, EMI merged its Virgin and Capitol record labels and
formed the Capitol Music Group. EMI was recently acquired by private equity group Terra Firma. The new EMI has emphasized its interest in working more cooperatively with the independent record label community and increasing its investment in A&R, an area where successful independent record labels like Victory are seeing great success.

About Victory Records

Victory Records is the top independent rock label in the United States,
having been named the best independent record label of 2005 by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. Founded in 1989 by Tony Brummel, the privately held business also has a music publishing company called Another Victory Publishing, which is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Copy of lawsuit available upon request: Victory Records, Inc. and Another Victory , Inc. v. Virgin Records America, Inc., a division of EMI Music North America [08cv00314 (PKC)].
SOURCE Victory Records

"The music industry is fundamentally corrupt. Whether other industries are as corrupt, I'm not able to say. Probably, where the service-suppliers are vulnerable & unlikely/unwilling to take action against transgressors, then abuse & exploitation are just as likely. In my own affairs, undertaking legal action over a six-year period (1991-97) is a clear declaration of willingness to resort to litigation to obtain what is owed, when the shortfall is intentional and/or unintentionally-intentional. This clear willingness-to-act is most likely the reason why Virgin Records & BMG Publishing settled huge amounts of underpayment 2 years ago.

"No artist in their right mind would undertake litigation: it is a form of artist-destruct. This is why management, record & publishing companies are able to exploit their artists & then play hardball: a high likelihood of getting away with (at least a significant percentage worth of) mis-appropriation. The position is even better for a chartered accountant who sets up in artist management: nominal claims to professional standards, effective control over artist money supply, days spent working in the office with a bag full of accounting tricks & a head-start on controlling the information supply."

- Robert Fripp's Diary, 15 February 2005

WARRANT SINGER SETTLES LAWSUIT WITH VIRGIN RECORDS:

March 12, 2008

LOS ANGELES - The lead singer of the rock band Warrant has settled a lawsuit with Virgin Records that accused the label of breaching a contract dealing with his musical compositions.

Lawyers on both sides told Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin on Monday they had resolved the case but terms of the settlement were not made public.

Jani Lane, whose real name is John Oswald, filed the suit in August, seeking unspecified compensatory and general damages.

Lane said he entered a deal with Virgin Songs Inc. in August 1988 in which he was to be paid royalties and other sums for his published compositions.

He claimed the label was notified of alleged breaches in the contract last June, but did not correct them.

Lane, 43, joined Warrant in 1984 and wrote such hits as "Heaven," "Down Boys" and "Cherry Pie." He left the band in 1992 and returned again before leaving again in 2004.

The band recently announced it will be touring this summer, with Lane and the rest of the original lineup regrouping for the first time in 14 years.

Courtesy of

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EMI MUSIC: MISSING ROYALTORS

Over the course of time, some of our artists and producers have changed addresses without notifying us and without leaving a forwarding address. As a result, royalty payments have been returned by the Post Office.

The names listed below are royaltors who have either moved or with whom we have lost contact. We would appreciate it if you or your authorized representatives would contact us because we may be holding royalties that are payable to you. If you know any of these people and are aware of their current address, please let us know.

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Well I looked under M for Moulding, P for Partridge and X for XTC but found nothing. - Jeff

EX-VIRGIN SUES BOYFRIEND

Janet Meloni is suing her boyfriend for breach of contract, in this case a verbal promise. "He said it would be a wonderful experience, it wouldn't hurt, and it would bring us closer together." She seeks unspecified damages.