30 SECONDS TO RESOLUTION
In a statement, A&R topper Nick Gatfield said: “We are thrilled to have set aside our differences and signed a new agreement with 30 Seconds to Mars. Our relationship has been extremely rewarding and successful, and we’re eager to move forward and put our global team to work.”
"I am excited to be a part of 30 Seconds to Mars' next chapter," says Virgin President of A&R Labels Rob Stevenson. "Not only are they one of the most important bands in rock music today, but I admire their commitment to the online world. It has made them digital pioneers in terms of reaching fans where they live and breathe music."
“It was a long battle, and the time came for the fight to end,” Jared Leto told L.A. Times’ blog Pop & Hiss. “We’re certainly not experts at this. This certainly was the first time we had been sued for $30 million, and the first time we ever really had a battle with a business partner. We’re not a group of fighters. It certainly is not fun being in litigation. I would avoid it at all costs.”
A new album, tentatively titled This Is War and featuring a guest appearance from Kanye West, will be released on Virgin this fall. Producing is Flood (U2, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins).
The LP will follow up 2005's platinum A Beautiful Life, which spawned two Top 10 Modern Rock singles, "From Yesterday" and "The Kill." The latter set a radio record for the longest-running hit in the history of Modern Rock radio play when it remained on the national airplay chart for more than 50 weeks following its #3 peak in 2006. "From Yesterday" was the band's first # 1 at the format.
