Guy Sebastian Settles Federal Court Proceedings Against Former Manager

Australian pop artist Guy Sebastian has resolved his Federal Court claim with Titus Day, his former manager, ending a legal battle that dragged on for almost a decade.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Aug. 14, Day admitted he “made a number of regrettable decisions which have had painful consequences,” both for himself and his family, and also for the Sebastians.

“I acknowledge that, long before any criminal investigation, charges or trials, Guy attempted to settle with me on what I now consider to be incredibly fair terms. I would do things differently if I had my time again,” he explains in the prepared release.

A confidential agreement is now in place to bring to an end the dispute.

“Looking back on the latter half of the time when I was managing Guy’s career,” Day’s message continues, “I can see that I had become a poor steward of Guy’s income, including income that my company continued to receive after Guy left my management company in 2017.”

Sebastian, a multiple ARIA Award winner and chart-topper in his homeland, wants to put it all behind him.

“I know this impacted a lot of people around me, but I believed it was something I couldn’t walk away from,” Sebastian comments in his own statement.

“I never could have imagined the twists and turns this ordeal would take. With the accountability shown and the apology Mr Day has provided in his statement, I am prepared to put aside my claim against him, forgive, and move forward.”

Those twists and turns included multiple trials, acquittals, and a hung jury on the majority of charges after a second trial. Now, it’s all over.

Day had served as Sebastian’s manager for eleven-and-a-half years, until the relationship ended in a financial dispute. Sebastian then launched legal action to try to recoup what he claimed was hundreds of thousands of dollars owed in performance fees and royalties.

Later, in 2022, Day was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling A$600,000, before his convictions were quashed on appeal.

According to a separate statement from Sebastian’s lawyer, Mark Faraday, a “compromise” was reached in respect of the artist’s “significant” Federal Court claim.

Day’s own statement “speaks for itself,” he continues. “It contains a clear apology, an acceptance of responsibility and an acknowledgement that payments owed to Guy were not passed on.”

One of the most popular Australian pop artists of his generation, Sebastian got his break as the winner of the first season of Australian Idol back in 2003. He can’t stop winning. His collection of trophies includes seven ARIA Awards, three ARIA No. 1 albums —  Just As I Am  (in 2003),  Armageddon ( 2012) and  T.R.U.T.H.  (2020) — and six solo leaders on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Despite the distractions of the case, Sebastian last year released his 10th studio album, 100 Times Around The Sun. The album peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart, continuing a streak of 10-straight top 10 releases (he also crashed the top tier with a career-spanning collection).

In 2025, he embarked on an entrepreneurial quest. “I’ve dreamed of building my own label and leading a management team that reflects my creative vision as well my passion for developing new artists,” he said at the time. “With my partnership at Sony Music Australia, the first part of that dream is now a reality, and it’s time to take the next step; creating a team that will manage my career and, in time, support other aspiring artists.”

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Billboard. Open at source →