Rumours hey. Firstly no one wanted him. Then he didn’t want to sign with anyone, word was he was going it alone. Now it’s been announced Robbie Williams will re-sign to existing label EMI for what is being muted as the biggest most expensive record contract in British history which, given that Mr Williams doesn’t immediately fall out of fashion, could be worth £50 million over six albums. The new contract is likely to give Williams more artistic control and a commitment by the label to help him truly break the US – despite some small successes in the States only 692,000 of his 20 million worldwide record sales have come from America and Robbie is known to be keen to become a major star there.
In a statement issued to the London Stock Exchange yesterday EMI said it would benefit from some of Williams' non-recording activities, including touring, publishing, and merchandising. Alain Levy, chairman/CEO of EMI Recorded Music, commented: "We are delighted to have signed a new deal on terms which are good for both parties and to be working with him for many years to come."