Madonna Joins Forces With Live Nation in Revolutionary Global Music Partnership

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 - Live Nation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rapino officially confirmed today that Madonna has entered into an unprecedented global partnership with Live Nation and will become the founding artist in its Artist Nation division.

“The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift," commented Madonna. "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."

“Madonna is a true icon and maverick as an artist and in business," stated Mr. Rapino. "Our partnership is a defining moment in music history. I am thrilled that Madonna, who is also now a shareholder in our company, has joined with us to create a new business model for our industry. Bringing all the varied elements of Madonna’s stunning music career into the Artist Nation and Live Nation family, moves her future and the future of our company into a unique and extraordinary place."

The first-of-its-kind partnership between Madonna and Live Nation encompasses all of Madonna’s future music and music-related businesses, including the exploitation of the Madonna brand, new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan club/web site, DVD’s, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements. This unique new business model will address all of Madonna’s music ventures as a total entity for the first time in her career.

Arthur Fogel, Chairman of Live Nation’s Global Music Division and Chief Executive Officer of Global Touring, who has produced the artist’s last three worldwide tours with the company which generated close to $500 million in the last six years commented, "Madonna is without a doubt one of the most fiercely original artists in history. It is a great opportunity for Live Nation and Artist Nation to build upon our years of success with Madonna as a touring artist."

Artist Nation was created to partner with artists to manage their diverse rights, grow their fan bases and provide a direct connection to fans through the global distribution platform and marketing proficiencies that have made Live Nation the world’s largest live music company. Headed by the division’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Cohl, Artist Nation has significant infrastructure in place to execute additional revenue streams including recorded music, merchandise, studios, media rights, digital rights, fan club/website and sponsorship divisions.

Joining with Artist Nation to work with Madonna will be Live Nation’s unmatched global distribution platform and artist-to-fan-reach, including over 80 offices in l8 countries, over 200 national and local sponsorship personnel, over l60 venues, access to over 35 million fans that attend well over l0,000 shows that Live Nation produces, promotes and/or hosts each year for over l,000 artists including fan access via Live Nation’s growing database of over 25 million fans.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Madonna for half my life. She has always encouraged me and set a great example for me to push the boundaries to reach our full potential. This partnership exemplifies just that," commented Madonna’s co-manager Guy Oseary.

Angela Becker, Madonna’s co-manager added, "The partnership and vision for the future that Artist Nation along with Live Nation presented to us assured me that this is the ideal home for Madonna. It is with great trust and optimism that we collectively move ahead together."

In regard to Madonna’s relationship with her current label, the artist commented, "My time with Warner Bros. Records has been great. I appreciate their hard work and value the many relationships I have developed over the years with the label in the U.S. and around the world. I have an album coming out with them next year and I’m excited about it. We still have work to do together."

so the new album will not be released by WB?

MikeMatronik said:

Nah, check out the final paragraph. Madonna and Warner will "still work together" for the new album. So after 25 years, an era has come to an end.

this is actually big news. she's the first artist of her magnitude to make such a bold move.

now, before the prince army comes to slay me, let me be clear: she is not the first major artist to make this sort of business decision. of course prince did this years ago and after several years he managed to make a smashing success of it.

madonna is still a number one selling recording artist and her popularity is not comprised of past accomplishments, though, whereas prince will always be popular for his past hits and not for his current work.

this is big news and i am certain more major acts will pay attention and begin making the same decision.

what is so exciting about this? isn't she just signed to another company now?
i mean. that's what it comes down to, right?

they do everything connected with her, so ultimately they have even more of a
say in what goes and what doesn't than WB did.

ok, she's a shareholder, but so was prince, he was even on the board of xecs
for a while there and look what it got him.

yeah, he didn't play his cards right, perhaps. and who's to say, this could
all be making madonna heaps of cash and garner even more exposure *gasp*

but she's still with just another company and if they sign every big name in
the future what makes it different from just another record company besides
them doing everything concerning exposure, releases and touring?

Madonna Has Left Warner Music

Okay she left warner.... so whats the big deal?????

Warner Bros. lost their two iconic artist, Prince and Madonna. Who is left?

totaldiva said:

I think that's about it.

Timmy84 said:

REM?

Justin1972UK said:

"Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

TotalAlisa said:

well, its no big deal if you're not interested in the business half of the music business.

if you are into the business part of the music biz, its a big deal because this pretty much closes the book on warner bros music. she was their last major act and investors will be pulling out very fast now that she's gone. warner knows it, too.

I'm most excited about this because it means Warners will more than likely put out that boxed set that's been "in the plans" 4 the last several years.

Warner Bros. lost their two iconic artist, Prince and Madonna. Who is left?

totaldiva said:

http://www.warnerbrosreco...om/artists

It's not like WB is gonna fold over this.

I'm most excited about this because it means Warners will more than likely put out that boxed set that's been "in the plans" 4 the last several years.

what is so exciting about this? isn't she just signed to another company now?
i mean. that's what it comes down to, right?

they do everything connected with her, so ultimately they have even more of a
say in what goes and what doesn't than WB did.

ok, she's a shareholder, but so was prince, he was even on the board of xecs
for a while there and look what it got him.

yeah, he didn't play his cards right, perhaps. and who's to say, this could
all be making madonna heaps of cash and garner even more exposure *gasp*

but she's still with just another company and if they sign every big name in
the future what makes it different from just another record company besides
them doing everything concerning exposure, releases and touring?

Warner Bros. lost their two iconic artist, Prince and Madonna. Who is left?

so the new album will not be released by WB?