Ooh, snap. This week Madonna announced that she’s leaving Warner Music Group and signing up with concert promoter Live Nation for a hefty $120 million, half of which she’s getting up front. Coupled with Radiohead’s online release of their latest album, some are saying the big recording labels face a long-term decline in their ability to sign up major talent.
Not so fast, says Warner Music. Madonna’s announcement had barely hit the news before WMG released a report from a group of Bank of America security analysts titled (I kid you not) “For $120 Million, She’s All Yours.” Variety quoted a few of the report’s highlights:
There is “headline risk associated with a Madonna defection. However, the bigger risk would be to overpay for an artist that does not seem to be generating the revenue to support the contract being discussed.”
Beside the fact that Madonna will turn 60 years old in the last year of the proposed deal, it is “fantastic” for her but does not “make economic sense” for WMG.
“Her loss will not meaningfully impact Warner’s near-term sales.”
In other words, don’t let the door bang you in the ass on your way out. This might sound like, “You can’t dump me, because I’m dumping you,” but Warner is probably right. It can’t be a good sign that Live Nation’s stock dropped by nearly a dollar after the announcement. Material Girl needs to face the fact that her alleged hotness has decisively left the building.
No comments
Madonna is totally freaky. I’m not sure you can argue that she’s lost all her hotness, but I think she HAS completely lost her ability to shock, which was central to her early appeal. A 50 year old woman, say, copulating with monkeys onstage (what else is left?) is a circus act, not a marketing angle.
She still looks good in that cocksucker red lipstick though, gotta tell you.
[...] Snub Madonna at your own risk (AgentBedhead) [...]