So the Wall Street Journal told us this deal was imminent last week, and they were right. The boss of live music conglom Live Nation, you know, that Michael Rapino bloke, yesterday confirmed that his company had entered into an unprecedented global partnership with that Madonna woman which will see the company not only represent Madge's touring interests, but also her recording career and merchandising ventures. The deal sees Live Nation launch a new division that will expand the company's operations beyond just the live entertainment arena, and that division will be known as Artist Nation. The deal also sees Madonna become a shareholder in Live Nation, though the specifics of that arrangement are unknown.
Confirming the deal, which sees her ending her career long recording relationship with Warner Music, Madonna told reporters: "The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift. For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless. Who knows how my albums will be distributed in the future? That's what's exciting about this deal - everything is possible. Live Nation has offered me a true partnership and after 25 years in the business, I feel that I deserve that".
As expected, the deal will last for ten years, and will be pretty all encompassing, with Live Nation involving itself in Madonna's brand, tours, studio albums, merchandising, websites, fan clubs, DVDs, music-related TV projects, film projects and related sponsorship. Much of that will be handled by the new Artist Nation division which will be headed up by Michael Cohl, the promoter of, among others, the Rolling Stones, who has been on the Live Nation board since they acquired his company CPI.
Rapino waxed lyrical about his Madonna deal yesterday, telling reporters: "Madonna is a true icon and maverick as an artist and in business. Our partnership is a defining moment in music history".