
In case we needed yet another sign that it’s the end of the record industry as we know it, The Wall Street Journal reports that forty-nine-year-old Madonna is close to ditching her longtime label, Warner Bros., and signing that unprecedented $120 million contract with concert-promotion titan Live Nation we were talking about in August. The cash and stock deal would reportedly last ten years and encompass three studio albums, tour promotion, merchandising and name-licensing, with the Material Mom pocketing $17 million up front and taking in around $50 million for the albums and $50 million for rights to promote her hugely successful tours (her last three Live Nation-produced treks have grossed $400 million). Since Live Nation hasn’t undertaken album promotion and distribution before, there’s speculation the company will bring in outside help from a label; in addition, the report notes that in order to turn a profit on the albums, Madonna would have to sell around 15 million copies of each LP (she has sold approximately 175 million copies of her twenty studio albums, compilations, soundtracks and live records since her 1983 debut). Warner will retain the rights to Madonna’s extensive back catalog, and as her rep Liz Rosenberg told Rock Daily in August, Madonna has a greatest-hits album plus a new studio album on the way in the coming months on the label.
First Radiohead, Now Madonna? Material Girl Close to Dumping Major Label
10/11/07, 10:07 am EST
Comments
A | 8/11/2008, 5:57 pm EST
CONGRATULATIONS MADONNA!!!!
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
I wish you sell 1.ooo.ooo.ooo.ooo of each Album and making even more money!!!
All the best,
A
David Fishman | 10/22/2007, 8:25 pm EST
I think Radiohead, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, etc. are really leading the trend here. While music labels are still fighting piracy, etc, the artists will embrace this growing digital trend, not fight it, in a way that will leave them out on top.
I just wrote about this same topic for nextgreatthing dot com.
David D | 10/20/2007, 12:09 am EST
Think about it (or do your homework)Madonna has always put her money where her mouth is. Whether I like her music or not, (I did enjoy COTDF) She has always been a fighter and dove into a cause that enlightened the world. PEACE, David
Mr. Morrison How would like to | 10/14/2007, 1:22 am EST
Make A Record?
(Drunk off his ass danling of top of a cyclone fence.
Sure.
"I Want to Smash Bill O Reilly | 10/14/2007, 1:18 am EST
In The Face Repeatedly in the FACE With A Small CAR Battery”
Agggggggggh hhhhh hhh!!!!!
Fuck this NOIZE!!! I’m blowing this motherfuckin’ popsickle stand!!!
pump | 10/13/2007, 1:32 pm EST
Madonna is finally seeing the writing on the wall. I’m surprised she wasn’t the first person to dump her label. She usually has her finger on the pulse of change. The record industry is dead, dead, dead. Artist like Madonna would NEVER make it today like she did 20+ years ago. She would be a one hit wonder like everyone else. I hope something changes soon, there is a lot of good music out there not being heard.
diamondgirl | 10/13/2007, 1:28 pm EST
if you think for one second that Madonna practices what she preaches that is your first mistake Jack. You sound almost like it’s personal to you. She is a money making machine, always has been always will be. Good for her. If she is going to preach “GREEN” then she should put her money where her mouth is and stop getting publicity for it. Just do it.. Help people with the millions she generates. I don’t care what she does with her money, but if you are going to open up your big mouth you better spit out something good and genuine, or the entire world will finally figure out that you are a fake!
Jared | 10/13/2007, 12:25 pm EST
I think the unpointed comment Jack had to make, coupled with his posting it 7 times, makes him sound pretty inarticulate.
Materialism? In Hollywood? Noooo. This comes as no shock, get used to it.
At least look at the positive and recognize that she’s trying to further innovate with this no record company thing. Maybe in the long run this may halt the exorbitant pricing of music. It’s a longshot, but at least it’s a new direction, and that’s not bad.
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
jack | 10/12/2007, 6:00 pm EST
I think that getting paid $120 million is just stupid. The only thing that much money is going to do is build up her materialsm. What else are you going to do with it but buy expensive cars and houses? If Maddona wants to”GO GREEN” and save planet Earth, she should stick to the money she already has(which I’m sure is already a ridiculous amount.)
Tommy | 10/12/2007, 3:21 pm EST
she looks good, but she’s lucky that any label still wants her.
it is not 1985 anymore!!
shepula | 10/12/2007, 11:49 am EST
i just wonder where all the record biz weasels will end up. poor lil’ weasels.
Dan | 10/11/2007, 7:04 pm EST
Do they really think Madonna`s CD sales are going to stay at the same level over the next 10 years?.Maybe people will pay big bucks to see old geezers like the Stones, but will they pay to see a woman in her 50s prancing around in a skimpy leotard?.
DAVID | 10/11/2007, 4:11 pm EST
Good one ,Jughead. THAT waas funny.
Jughead | 10/11/2007, 2:22 pm EST
Oh good, now she’ll have more money to buy more little black kids from Africa. They’re having a sale over there you know - buy one black kid, get one free.
Sean Penn | 10/11/2007, 1:31 pm EST
She makes music?
Warren | 10/11/2007, 1:27 pm EST
Madonna is a smart woman who knows how to sing, produce, act, write music and reinvent herself time and time again. She is a smart savy, businesswoman who can go with any label. Who would not want her especially these days with digitalized songs and ripoffs?
Crillz Beatz | 10/11/2007, 11:47 am EST
Keep doin’ what u do, defining Greatness.
MM | 10/11/2007, 10:55 am EST
with all of these artists “dumping” their labels, don’t they have CONTRACTS in place? how are all these people just walking away?
shaun | 10/11/2007, 10:30 am EST
“…with the Material Mom pocketing $17 up front…”
Kind of a hilarious typo… wouldn’t even break a twenty on Madonna. That shit’s COLD.

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