With all the talk about the Rolling Stones looking for a new label to manage the bulk of their catalogue and to work with on new recording ventures, Fox News' Roger Friedman has reported that the legendary rockers are in talks with Live Nation about signing a 360 degree deal similar to that the live music conglom entered into with Madonna last year.
He says "with the band's legendary touring prowess and diminishing returns as a recording act, it's the only organization where it makes sense for the self-proclaimed world's greatest rock & roll band to sign". The fact the new division set up by Live Nation to work with artists on non-touring based projects is headed up by Stones tour promoter Michael Cohl will be another possible reason why such a deal might be attractive to all parties.
As previously reported, Live Nation has expressed an interest in expanding into other areas of the music business than its traditional domain of tour promotion and venue management, with its wide-ranging if expensive deal with Madonna being its first major dabble in that domain (not that that deal has really come into effect as yet).
The Stones existing record label relationship with EMI has reached its conclusion. Universal will release the soundtrack to an upcoming documentary about the band, while Jagger et al are known to be in talks with various labels regarding a more long term deal.