Music Industry News from Moshable.com

Live Rolling Stones Album Being Released

The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Universal Music is distributing a new live Rolling Stones Album. According to the article Universal Music has agreed to distribute a live album for the Rolling Stones, one of Britain's best known rock bands, amid speculation that the band could abandon a decades-long relationship with EMI Group PLC.

News of the possible loss of Rolling Stones recording rights for EMI comes after a series of high-profile artists went public about why they have stopped working with the company. Another established British rock band, Radiohead, earlier quit after a dispute about money and creative control.

Universal, a unit of Vivendi SA, Thursday said it had agreed to a deal with the Rolling Stones to record the soundtrack CD for director Martin Scorsese's film "Shine A Light," shot at a Rolling Stones concert. A spokesman for the Rolling Stones said: "The band are looking forward to working with Universal Music and are excited about its new venture."

The agreement between the band, who have had a long relationship with EMI, and Universal, has prompted speculation that the Rolling Stones may sign a more comprehensive recording deal with Universal when their contract with EMI expires.

Terra Firma Capital Partners, a private-equity group, bought EMI last year for £3.2 billion ($6.26 billion), sparking wide-ranging restructuring amid criticism from artists.

Just this week, EMI confirmed plans for a large-scale restructuring which will see up to one third of the company's 6000-strong workforce losing their jobs.

But EMI Thursday stressed its good relations with the band and said it wasn't aware of any plans on their part to sever the relationship. "EMI has a very good relationship with the Rolling Stones, stretching back over 20 years," a spokesman for EMI said. "There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to work together for many years to come." He declined to comment on when the band's recording contract came up for review.

The manager of Robbie Williams, another top-selling EMI artist, recently said the singer wouldn't hand over his next album, and accused Mr. Hands of behaving like a "plantation owner."

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