Martin Garrix wins lawsuit against Spinnin’ Records
Martin Garrix wins lawsuit against Spinnin’ Records, a victory for DJs and music rights.
A once blossoming relationship between Martin Garrix and Spinnin’ Records is now dead.
It’s a classic battle of an artist trying to get back rights to the music he produced.
After a long and arduous court battle, Garrix has won the rights to all music he previously signed over to both Spinnin’ Records and Music All Stars management.
Early yesterday morning a Dutch judge ruled in Garrix’s favour for the destruction of contracts.
The lawsuit was initiated by Garrix in the summer of 2015, alleging an improper demand from Spinnin’ and Music All Stars of 3.7million and 650 000 Euros, respectively.
Naturally the companies countered the suit, alleging that Garrix’s abandonment of contractual obligations lost them more than 5.4 million Euros in revenue.
Animals
Garrix’s stance on the matter is that he was “fooled” into signing away rights to his music when signing his record and management contract in 2012 and renewed it in 2013.
Furthermore, Garrix’s lawyer, Oktay Duzgun argued a conflict of interest stemming from the fact that both companies are helmed by Eelko van Kooten, who is alleged to have bullied the young producer and his father by saying that the combination deal was their only option.
Judges in a court in the Netherlands ruled in Garrix’s favour, agreeing over the conflict of interest and how signing new contracts with Spinnin’ Records were represented by Music All Stars, with both parties only looking out for Van Kooten’s best interests.
Garrix won rights to masters on massive tracks like “Animals”, as well as neighbouring rights and so-called “phonograms,” too.
Garrix’s team issued this statement:
“I am happy with this outcome,” said Garrix of the case ruling, via press release. “Not only for myself but also for all other DJ’s/producers out there, since this case was not only about me, but about all of us artists”
Martin Garrix wins lawsuit against Spinnin’ Records, as things keep spinning in his favour
