Stones sign one-album record deal

The Rolling Stones have signed a one-album deal with record label Universal to release a live CD recorded in New York in 2006.

The CD - to accompany Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light - will come out in March.

The announcement comes as the band considers its options after its record deal with troubled EMI ends next month.

The Stones, who have been with EMI for 16 years, will be free to talk to other labels when that deal ends.

A new deal would incorporate the Stones' back catalogue from 1971 onwards - which is owned by the band - as well as new recordings.

But an EMI spokesman said: "The Rolling Stones have not signed to Universal and they have not left EMI."

Shine A Light, which will open next month's Berlin Film Festival, features coverage of two gigs played at New York's Beacon Theatre in autumn 2006 as well as rare archive and behind-the-scenes footage.

Special guests Jack White, of the White Stripes, and singer Christina Aguilera joined the Stones onstage.

A spokesman for the Rolling Stones said: "The band are looking forward to working with Universal Music and are excited about this new venture."

Job losses

Meanwhile, Universal - whose artists include Elton John, the Scissor Sisters and the Kaiser Chiefs - said it was proud to be working with "true music legends".

News of the deal follows reports that other EMI giants, including Kylie Minogue and Coldplay, are considering jumping ship.

The deal will trigger speculation that the Rolling Stones are considering following the lead of long-time contemporary Sir Paul McCartney, as well as Radiohead, in leaving the label.

After leaving EMI, Sir Paul branded the label "boring", saying its handling of his music was "symbolic of the treadmill".

Last week, Robbie Williams' manager Tim Clark said the singer would withhold new records if assurances were not given over marketing and promotion.

EMI's recent woes were compounded earlier this week when Mr Hands announced the loss of between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs in a bid to reduce costs by £200m a year.

Mr Hands, the boss of private equity firm Terra Firma - which bought EMI for £3.2bn last year - said the changes would allow the label to target investment in new acts.

The Rolling Stones, renowned for extensive tours, were the highest-earning musical act between June 2006 and 2007 making $88m (£43m), according to US business publication Forbes.

Last August, their A Bigger Bang World Tour came to an end at London's O2 Arena.

The tour grossed $437m (£217m), Forbes said.

Band members Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards controversially flouted the month-old smoking ban by lighting up on the O2 stage.

The pair escaped with a fine.

Link to BBC Article

EMI Music's Partnership with SendMe Expands Mobile Company's Offerings

EMI MUSIC AND MOBILE MUSIC company SendMe, Inc. enter into a strategic agreement today that gives SendMeMobile.com members access to EMI's full catalog of mobile content, including 4,000 new ringtones.

Russell Klein, co-founder and CEO of SendMe, said the addition of EMI's catalog to SendMeMobile.com builds on the company's promise to give members "the broadest premium content out there."

EMI Music's record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin. EMI artists that are now available at SendMeMobile.com include 30 Seconds to Mars, A Fine Frenzy, Lily Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae, Belinda, Beastie Boys, Dierks Bentley, Chemical Brothers, The B-52's, Coldplay, Daft Punk, Norah Jones, Lenny Kravitz, J. Holiday, Dean Martin, Bob Seger, Frank Sinatra, Joss Stone, The Rolling Stones, K.T. Tunstall and Keith Urban.

SendMe's other content partners include Universal, Glu, Telcogames, Sony Pictures and The Orchard. Members have access to games and music. SendMe's built-in community allows members to create and share their favorites with friends and family on-the-go.

"SendMe is another innovative way for us to strengthen the bond between our artists and fans," said Lauren Berkowitz, senior vice president, digital for EMI Music North America, in a statement.

Link to MediaPost Article

EMI Prepares Catalog Push, Taps Saatchi & Saatchi

EMI is now planning a major revitalization of its catalog roster, and tapping advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi to craft the campaign. The major label is planning broad-based initiatives for artists like Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Steve Miller Band, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, Nat King Cole, and the Beatles, according to information recently disclosed. The initiative will traverse a number of digital and physical formats, including CD, DVDs, and DRM-free, premium downloads.

Saatchi & Saatchi will develop approaches to reconnect artists with longtime fans, and nurture fresh relationships. Of course, catalog revitalization efforts are nothing new, though the latest push comes at a difficult juncture for newer artists. For most majors, fresh successes are usually muted by piracy, and rarely compare to the sales profiles of breakouts from earlier eras. That makes it more difficult to develop newer artists, especially over a multi-album period.

Meanwhile, established legends are also prevalent on file-sharing networks, though older demographics are more likely to purchase albums - online or off. The global approach will largely be developed from the Los Angeles Saatchi & Saatchi offices, according to the label.

Link to Digital Music News Article

Research Reaffirms Dominant Universal Music Market Share

Universal Music Group continues to carry a dominant global market share, according to reaffirming research issued this week. The report, published by UK-based Informa Telecoms & Media, noted that UMG is leading the pack in both physical and digital formats. Specifically, the group carried a 26.5 percent share of digital recorded sales in 2006, larger than its combined share of 25.7 percent. In terms of digital-only assets, Sony BMG fell in second with 22.5 percent, Warner Music Group grabbed third with 16.0 percent, and EMI trailed with a 10.5 percent ranking.

In the broader recorded category, the ranking was similar, though percentages shifted somewhat. Specifically Sony BMG pulled a 21.2 percent share, Warner Music Group grabbed 13.8 percent, and EMI earned 12.8 percent. Perhaps the most interesting component of the report involved the independent sector, which rallied an impressive 24.5 percent of digital receipts, and 26.5 percent of broader recorded revenues, both second-place finishes. Meanwhile, Informa noted that rankings based solely on recorded assets may become less important in the future, especially as labels increasingly invest in related streams like touring, synchronization licensing, and merchandising.

Link to Digital Media News Article