Hot on the heels of EMI's announcement that it was cutting up to a third of its workforce as wall as its promotion budgets, the Rolling Stones plan to take their next album from EMI to Universal.
It could also be a sign that the legendary act may have already recorded its final album for the company. "Shine a Light," the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese documentary filmed at the Beacon Theter in Manhattan in 2006, will be released on Universal in March. (The movie is set for release on April 4.)
The Rolling Stones' contract with EMI ends next month and will be able to negotiate with other companies (or go out on their own) after that. Now, the Stones really haven't been a big seller of recorded music in years and EMI could argue this album won't be a major shift of the company's fortunes in either direction. However, because the band owns its own back catalog, wherever it goes all its previous big hits go with it -- and that could be a big problem for EMI.
Stones sign one-album record deal [BBC]
PHOTO: Rollingstones.com