And talking of Warner Music, that Mick Hucknall fella has declared a truce with the major after reaching a deal over the Simply Red back catalogue.
As we've surely previously reported, Hucknall fell out with Warner big time in 2000 when they released a Simply Red retrospective album very much against his wishes. In response he set up his own indie label, simplyred.com, and released his own new material, while refusing to work with the major on any further back catalogue projects.
But eight years on a deal has been reached between Hucknall's manager Ian Grenfell and the major which will see the entire Simply Red catalogue re-released via Warner's Rhino division. The deal will also see Hucknall's band's music be officially available in digital for the first time.
Commenting on the new deal, Music Week quote Grenfell thus: "We realised how ridiculous it was that Mick wasn't connected to his catalogue. I think he was slightly in denial about his catalogue. He still played the songs live because he knows what his audience want, but when I talked to him about this deal it was a real easy conversation."
The first re-release will be a Collector's Edition of 'Stars', which will released on 25 Feb as a 3 disc box set and a digital bundle. A special iTunes bundle with extra exclusive content will also be available.
Confirming that release, Rhino VP Dan Chalmers told CMU: "We're delighted to have reached this agreement with Simply Red, who are one of our most successful and prolific recording artists. We look forward to working closely with Mick Hucknall to reintroduce Simply Red's incredible body of work to both new and existing fans. We have a wealth of content with which to create beautifully-packaged box sets and new digital experiences, beginning with the much anticipated Collector's Edition of 'Stars'".
Hucknall himself added: "Having reached a positive solution, it's great to be back within the Warner creative engine and to be working as a team on the Simply Red catalogue".