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Madonna signs new deal with Warner Music
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 17 August 2021
Madonna has announced a new deal with Warner Music that will see the major in charge of her entire catalogue, recordings and songs.
The deal reunites Madonna with what was her long-time label from the 1980s to the 2000s. That partnership basically ended in 2007 when the musician did one of those mega-bucks 360 degree deals with live music giant Live Nation, which had ambitions to move into recordings at the time.
Though, because she still had records to deliver to Warner under her previous deal, she didn’t start working with Live Nation on recorded music projects until a few years later. By which time Live Nation had given up on its plans to move into the record industry, meaning it basically outsourced releasing Madonna’s subsequent three albums to Universal Music.
However, as of 2025 those albums will also become part of the Warner catalogue, alongside all the previous Madonna records released by the major, its Sire imprint, and its former joint venture label with the musician herself, Maverick Records.
With Warner Chappell also administering her songs catalogue, you’re going to struggle to play a Madonna song without throwing some money in the mini-major’s general direction.
The new deal was announced on the pop star’s 63rd birthday, and comes ahead of the 40th anniversary next year of her debut single ‘Everybody’. As part of the new alliance, Warner will embark of a series of reissues, with special editions curated by Madonna herself.
“Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world with the utmost care and consideration”, says she. “They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my catalogue from the last 40 years”.
Warner’s CEO of Recorded Music, Max Lousada, adds: “We’re honoured to be forming a dynamic new partnership with an incomparable superstar whose influence on our musical and artistic landscape is immense and immutable. Madonna has changed the course of pop and dance music, while taking live performance to new heights of drama and invention”.
“At the same time”, he goes on, “she uses her fame to amplify some of the most important social issues and movements of our time. Constantly and fearlessly challenging convention, her four decades of music are not only an extraordinary body of work, but a playbook for creative and cultural evolution”.
Next up in Madonna’s schedule is the release of new documentary ‘Madame X’ on US streaming service Paramount Plus.
