Madonna, Live Nation link up on deal
Madonna and concert promoter Live Nation Inc. announced a deal Tuesday that will give the company an all-encompassing stake in the music of the Material Girl, the latest big-name artist to break ranks with a major record label.
Financial terms were not disclosed in the joint statement released by Madonna and Live Nation.
The deal is worth about $120 million over 10 years, a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the matter previously told The Associated Press.
The official announcement came after weeks of speculation that Madonna would abandon Warner Music Group, which refused to match the Live Nation deal.
Madonna, who still owes Warner Bros. Records another studio album and a greatest hits album, said in the statement that she was drawn to the deal with Live Nation because of the changes the music business has undergone in recent years.
The deal with Live Nation encompasses future music and music-related businesses, including the Madonna brand, albums, touring, merchandising, fan club and Web site, DVDs, music-related television and film projects, and associated sponsorship agreements, the statement said.
Shares of Live Nation rose 8 cents to $21.50 during afternoon trading.
Under terms of the deal, Madonna, 49, would receive a signing bonus of about $18 million and a roughly $17 million advance for each of three albums, the person said. A portion of the compensation would involve stock, the person told the AP.
Madonna could also benefit significantly from the touring component of the agreement, which gives Live Nation the exclusive right to promote her tours, the person said.
Some Wall Street analysts have questioned whether Live Nation can squeeze out a significant profit from the deal. The Material Girl’s age has also led some to suggest she may not be as bankable a recording artist as she’s been in the past.
Arthur Fogel, the head of global touring at Live Nation who has produced Madonna’s last three tours, shrugged off the criticism, blaming “ageism” for doubts about her ability to sell CDs and fill arenas.
“Madonna is an incredibly talented and vital artist and will continue to be,” Fogel told the AP. “Clearly, we would not have done this deal if we didn’t have a great expectation of great returns.”
Rapino said he doesn’t understand Wall Street’s skepticism.
“I’m amazed that our stock hasn’t jumped considerably in that we’re absolutely delivering what we talked about for two years,” he said, referring to Live Nation’s efforts to grab a bigger slice of the music business beyond touring.
“This is not about a Madonna deal … Madonna is the validation that this division is the strategy that’s come to life,” Rapino said.
The company expects to do other all-encompassing deals involving a range of artists, from superstars to new talent.
“There’s no reason it can’t work with a baby band,” Rapino said.
From an article by Alex Veiga, Business Writer at the Associated Press.