While those of us that truly believe in independent culture may not give a shit, the New York Times is reporting today that Madonna's going to leave Warner Music for the Clear Channel spinoff Live Nation which, up until this announcement, has been involved only in live music promotion, not the recorded kind.
So what? Well, what is that they're paying $100 million for Madonna's next three albums, which is a big-ass chunk of change and which clearly signals that they're going to be moving into the record label market as well. And thus a new major label--one with ties to a huge radio monopoly and a massive concert venue holding to boot. Meet the new model.
