- Oct 31, 2000
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Looks like Miss Carey is coming back 
Here's the hot pic!
<<
Millions More for Mariah
Pop star giving Universal
a spin following EMI exit
By PHYLLIS FURMAN
Daily News Business Writer
After months of negotiations, pop diva Mariah Carey has landed a $21 million record deal with the world's biggest music company, Universal Music Group.
Looking to vault back to the top of the charts after being cut loose from EMI's Virgin Records, Carey has decided to put her career in the hands of two industry power brokers: Universal chief Doug Morris and fast-rising music exec Lyor Cohen, who heads Universal label Island Def Jam.
"I couldn't be happier," Carey told the Daily News. "Doug is such a great leader."
The pop diva, who has sold 150 million albums during her career making her the biggest selling female artist of all time, will set up her own record label at Island Def Jam to release Carey albums as well as CDs from artists she will sign.
The music giant will pay Carey some $7 million to $8 million per album in a three-album deal. That's a fraction of the jaw-dropping $20 million an album promised by Virgin. Her first album for Universal is slated for release later this year.
Yesterday's signing caps off months of talks, in which some of the most formidable names in the music business ? including music legend Clive Davis ? vied to sign the pop star.
Universal, a division of French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal, prevailed because of its deep pockets and ties to Vivendi's vast array of media assets that include Hollywood studio Universal Pictures, which could put Carey in its flicks.
Carey said she wanted to be in business with Morris and Cohen.
Cohen, who made his name as the rap mogul behind such superstars as Jay-Z and Method Man, is now ruling the pop charts with such releases as the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack and rhythm and blues artist Ashanti.
The big question for Universal is whether Carey can make a comeback after a series of wrenching setbacks including poor sales for latest release, "Glitter."
Music insiders said that soundtrack album flopped because it was mishandled by the Virgin team, which pushed for its quick release, just weeks after signing the diva. Carey suffered a breakdown, and Virgin was forced to pay her $28 million to get out of its contract.
"This is a woman of enormous talent, she is a Tiffany piece," Morris said. "This is a brilliant artist who had a bad moment. When she walks on the stage for the next Grammys, watch the tears flow in the audience. That's our dream."
"This looks right," said powerful L.A.-based rock star manager Allen Kovac. "Before she didn't have a lot of input or help. Doug knows how to make records. This is a big win for him."
Not everyone was willing to capitulate to the diva's demands. J Records, the label of music exec Davis, refused to sign a "key-man deal" that would have allowed Carey to walk away if Davis was no longer heading the company, said J Records president Charles Goldstuck. >>
Here's the hot pic! <<
Millions More for Mariah
Pop star giving Universal
a spin following EMI exit
By PHYLLIS FURMAN
Daily News Business Writer
After months of negotiations, pop diva Mariah Carey has landed a $21 million record deal with the world's biggest music company, Universal Music Group.
Looking to vault back to the top of the charts after being cut loose from EMI's Virgin Records, Carey has decided to put her career in the hands of two industry power brokers: Universal chief Doug Morris and fast-rising music exec Lyor Cohen, who heads Universal label Island Def Jam.
"I couldn't be happier," Carey told the Daily News. "Doug is such a great leader."
The pop diva, who has sold 150 million albums during her career making her the biggest selling female artist of all time, will set up her own record label at Island Def Jam to release Carey albums as well as CDs from artists she will sign.
The music giant will pay Carey some $7 million to $8 million per album in a three-album deal. That's a fraction of the jaw-dropping $20 million an album promised by Virgin. Her first album for Universal is slated for release later this year.
Yesterday's signing caps off months of talks, in which some of the most formidable names in the music business ? including music legend Clive Davis ? vied to sign the pop star.
Universal, a division of French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal, prevailed because of its deep pockets and ties to Vivendi's vast array of media assets that include Hollywood studio Universal Pictures, which could put Carey in its flicks.
Carey said she wanted to be in business with Morris and Cohen.
Cohen, who made his name as the rap mogul behind such superstars as Jay-Z and Method Man, is now ruling the pop charts with such releases as the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack and rhythm and blues artist Ashanti.
The big question for Universal is whether Carey can make a comeback after a series of wrenching setbacks including poor sales for latest release, "Glitter."
Music insiders said that soundtrack album flopped because it was mishandled by the Virgin team, which pushed for its quick release, just weeks after signing the diva. Carey suffered a breakdown, and Virgin was forced to pay her $28 million to get out of its contract.
"This is a woman of enormous talent, she is a Tiffany piece," Morris said. "This is a brilliant artist who had a bad moment. When she walks on the stage for the next Grammys, watch the tears flow in the audience. That's our dream."
"This looks right," said powerful L.A.-based rock star manager Allen Kovac. "Before she didn't have a lot of input or help. Doug knows how to make records. This is a big win for him."
Not everyone was willing to capitulate to the diva's demands. J Records, the label of music exec Davis, refused to sign a "key-man deal" that would have allowed Carey to walk away if Davis was no longer heading the company, said J Records president Charles Goldstuck. >>
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