Shakira Leaves Epic, Signs Massive Live Nation Deal

After months of speculation and despite internal turmoil over the nature of these deals, concert promotion company Live Nation has signed Shakira to a 10-year contract worth an estimated $70 to $100 million. Shakira joins the likes of Madonna and Jay-Z as superstars who have come to terms with the concert giant for full-scale deals that include touring, album releases and merchandising opportunities (though the specific terms of the Shakira deal were not disclosed). The Colombian star still owes three albums to her old label, Epic, but her the touring aspect of her Live Nation deal will take effect immediately.

Related Stories:
• Madonna Deal Done: Material Mom Signs With Live Nation
• U2 Signs Deal With Live Nation
• Internal War Over 360 Deals Could Splinter Live Nation

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter