The latest installment in the legal dispute between Spinnin’ Records and Martin Garrix takes a surprising turn as Spinnin’ Records overturned on appeal a lower court decision that ruled in Garrix’s favor in 2017. The released statement reads as follows:
‘Today the Higher Court in Leeuwarden ruled on appeal that Martin Garrix (Martijn Garritsen) had no legal right to break his agreements prematurely with Spinnin’ Records and MusicAllStars Management.
The ruling confirms that the production- and management agreements with Martin Garrix were established correctly and properly complied with, by Spinnin’ Records and MusicAllStars Management. The accusation by Garrix that agreements were unreasonable has also been rejected: “It can be concluded that Martin Garrix was not falsely led into agreements in 2012 en 2013” the Higher Court said. According to the Higher Court, the agreements expired in mid-2015 and not before.”
In 2015, Garrix announced on Social Media he was splitting from Spinnin’ Records, his label, and MusicAllStars Management, his management company, based on accusations of contractual impropriety and a conflict of interest as both companies were run by Eelko Van Kooten. Despite the 2017 decision that affirmed Van Kooten could have avoided a conflict of interest by introducing a 3rd party arbiter, the appeals Court ruled that Martin Garrix had no legal grounds to nullify their relationship prematurely. Shortly after the decision went public, Van Kooten commented:
“I am delighted with the ruling of the Higher Court that we made valid agreements with Martijn at the time, which should have been respected. This statement confirms that the accusation of deception or fraud was unjustified. Even though I have since sold Spinnin’ Records and MusicAllStars Management, those accusations were also aimed at me personally. I look back with pride on a successful collaboration with Martijn and wish him the best in his further career.”
Details Still Developing
Martin Garrix will have to pay for damages based on lost revenue which has yet to be determined; a previous countersuit from both companies sought €6.4 million in lost revenue from Garrix’s abandonment of contractual obligations.