“American Idol” season three contestants are locking in their recording contracts. Finalist George Huff has inked a record deal with Word Records, a division of Warner Bros., and redhead John Stevens has landed a deal with Madonna’s Maverick Records

What the hell??? this guy was crap!! anyhoo do we know if Maverick has re-signed "MESHELL"?? if not maybe this is what they are spending the money on instead.

Is Maverick even Madonna's anymore?

yeah, i don't think madge has anything to do with maverick anymore. right?

WBR paid Madonna 10mil for her share in Maverick

Yeah, Madonna is a smart business woman, there would be no way she would sign a probable one hit wonder, which most American Idols end up being.

Madonna wouldn't be so stupid.

I think 'red John' has a big future. In a Vegas-style show lounge. I am shocked he actually was signed to a label.

He's a local boy so I'm happy for him.

Larry, Curly and Mo (The American Idol judges) knew he wouldn't fit into that dumb shows style-a-week format but selected him anyway. Of course he winds up being terrible but unfortunately I'm not one to judge considering I stopped watching the show in the early rounds. But I'm happy for him. Sometimes good things happening to good people is enough to get baehind.

In the case of American Idol, I'm waiting for next years release from merican Idols most talented performer, TRENYCE!

Oh, I recall many a workday discussions counting down until the day he was finally voted off.

Why did Madonna sell her shares of Maverick? Is she still signed to Warners or is she trying to get an independant label started like Prince?

Just resigned to Sire... but apprently WBR felt Maverick was losing money and they wanted the label gone... to the point they were suing Madonna and her partners. Ended up settling. I believe Madders has two albums left with WBR. Word on the web is she is looking at starting another label with Sony

ehuffnsd said:

Madonna is actually good at running a label, i mean she sprung off Michelle Branch, Deftones and Alanis Morisette.

Spastic Boy? I just never got him on AI. If he blows up, guess I'll be having the last laugh.

jayaredee said:

And Prodigy, and Meshell.

From what I have read there is feud between the Current Owner of WBR and Madonna. He doesn't want to spend the money that Madonna is used to having spent on her. He didn't want to pay for the Photo Shoot for American Life or any of the press junkets for the album promotion. Than after she pulled the Video for fear of being Dixie Chicked he pull support for the album and let it flander. Than he claims Maverick lost money.... like other labels didn't over the past 5 years. So Madonna fought him on that and won. She'll do better elsewhere. She's too smart to let this stand in her way

ehuffnsd said:

not exactly true. most of that took place under the previous owners (AOL Time Warner). she sued them because the stock options that were part of her contract were worthless after AOL took over and basically tanked the whole company. they sued her saying that Maverick was losing money, she said it wasn't. the feuding was with the previous establishment, and it wasn't until after the label was sold that headway on clearing this stuff up was made. they bought out her part of the company. Guy Oseary stayed.

it's interesting that they claim Maverick was losing money, but then proceded to buy out her share.

Madonna wouldnt stoop that low..would she?

paisleypark4 said:

yes. yes, she would.

jayaredee said:

Except for that one group, with that one hit, whose name I forget...

Supernova said:

Candlebox?

The best thing Madonna has ever done in her whole career is sign up "Meshell"
that's the only thing that stops me from completely disliking her
[Edited 9/19/04 22:18pm]