Friday 8 March 2002

Mariah is said to be close to a record deal

Mariah Carey - the pop diva who was paid $28 million to walk away from her contract with the EMI Group's Virgin Records six weeks ago - is in advanced negotiations with other labels about a deal and could make a decision as early as next week, people close to those talks said today.

Ms. Carey, who has had more No. 1 songs than any musical artists except Elvis Presley and the Beatles, left EMI in January after a stormy year in which her album and movie, both titled "Glitter", fared poorly and she suffered a breakdown from nervous exhaustion. Many industry executives predicted Ms. Carey would take a few months off after leaving EMI. But instead, she and her lawyer, Donald Passman, have been holding discussions with recording executives and hope to sign a deal soon.

Several people who have been briefed on the talks said Ms. Carey was likely to sign for fewer albums than her last contract - perhaps three albums, down from four - and that the value of the deal would be a fraction of the $80 million she commanded from EMI last year. Terms being discussed are as little as a $5 million advance for each album, two people involved said. Of course, no deal is guaranteed.

Among those in talks is the Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam, which represents artists like Jay Z and Nickelback, people close to the talks said, adding that an offer had been submitted. Ms. Carey's representatives have responded with a counterproposal, one person said. Def Jam is run by Lyor Cohen, who worked alongside Russell Simmons to turn the label into one of the world's premier rap labels.

Executives at other labels have expressed interest too. The Warner Music Group has also made an offer and is expecting a response Friday. Two of Warner's labels are interested: Elektra Entertainment Group, which is run by Sylvia Rhone, and Warner Brothers Records, headed by Tom Whalley, who worked at Interscope Records, the home of Eminem, for more than a decade.

Mr. Passman, who is handling the talks for Ms. Carey, declined to comment. Executives at the labels would not comment either. A spokeswoman for Ms. Carey said she was meeting with many executives and taking time to make her own decision.

The music industry has speculated recently that Frederick W. Field, the co-founder of Interscope who left last year to start his own label and is an heir to the Marshall Field's department store fortune, was interested in signing Ms. Carey. But he put that notion to rest today, saying through a spokeswoman that he "is not pursuing Ms. Carey". Clive Davis, the music impresario who fostered stars like Whitney Houston and, more recently, the five-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, said he had not met with Ms. Carey.

Money is not likely to be Ms. Carey's main priority. The primary issue will be which executive is the best person to foster her career. Although Virgin Records gave Ms. Carey total creative control, she was put under the tutelage of Nancy Berry and foundered. After the "Glitter" debacle, Ms. Carey is unlikely to command the same terms as last year.

Recording companies are under pressure to shore up their balance sheets and are not interested in paying the huge sums once thought necessary to attract artists. Uppermost in many executives' minds is how much financial risk they - and their corporate bosses - are willing to take. One issue that has been a sticking point in the talks with Ms. Carey is how much say the label will have in molding her image, recording executives said.

"You'd be crazy not to be interested in her if you got the right deal," said Simon Renshaw, the manager of acts like the Dixie Chicks. "The question is, 'What does she want and is she prepared to listen?' She's got to find that certain executive she can truly work with to help her with her career."

Mr. Cohen, who lives in New York, is considered one of the most interesting young executives in the music industry today. Ms. Carey has always dabbled in the hip-hop world, although that is not what most of her fans listen to. Ms. Rhone of Elektra is also well liked and a celebrity in her own right. When she walked into Mr. Davis's pre-Grammy party last week in Beverly Hills, executives and artists alike flocked to her side.

Mr. Whalley is based in Los Angeles, and friends say he has a less public persona. But it is possible that Mr. Whalley could team Ms. Carey with executives there who have worked with the likes of Paula Abdul and Madonna. Of course, another record executive from another label could decide to come in later. But along with a nurturing environment, Ms. Carey needs the heft of a worldwide label that can distribute records both in the United States as well as abroad. Both Universal and Warner have wide distribution.

(The New York Times)

Many thanks to Mariah News.



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