Billboard magazine has released a special double-issue celebrating the end of the 2000s decade, which includes a segment dedicated to Madonna's biggest achievement of the decade, the record-breaking success of the Sticky & Sweet Tour. She gets a lot of congratulations for the biggest solo tour of all time, including from her own manager Guy Oseary. Her 50 biggest hits on Billboard are also listed, Like A Virgin being in the pole position.
There's also an interview with the manager, Live Nation's Arthur Fogel and a Warner Bros. Recods Chairman/CEO, Tom Whalley. Arthur Fogel says the 2008-2009 tour was executed perfectly, the North American stadium shows drew criticism in advance but turned out to be huge successes, along with the 2009 shows in new markets. All her previous tours this decade had talks about an extension, but it only managed to happen for Sticky & Sweet. He also "feels" that Madonna could do (and probably will do) Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Southeast Asia on the next tour. Beyond that, "it's a question of time we have and what kind of show she's thinking about."
Guy Oseary says the relationship with Live Nation is amazing, because they never put pressure on them and they are friends. Both men claim the long-term LN deal didn't have a direct impact on Sticky & Sweet, and all the synergies in merchandising, branding, licensing and recording are "the future, the next level. That's when we start incorporating our albums into things. We have yet to scratch the surface on what the future holds."
He also says they have no immediate ideas about the next step because "we got off tour not so long ago, we're taking a breath, then we're going to start meeting with people and hearing ideas. The only thing Madonna and I have asked for is not to be limited, meaning, I want to hear everything and anything. We're open to anything. The goal is to reach as many people as possible, that's the prerequisite. We're aiming high."
Warner Chairman/CEO Tom Whalley claims Madonna is the quintessential Warner Bros. artist, selling 200 million albums worldwide. He reveals Warner Bros. is indeed releasing the Sticky & Sweet Tour on DVD (no release date given though) and they are expecting it to do well because The Confessions Tour sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. He calls the parting with Madonna bittersweet but "We always wish her the best and we will continue to do things with her because we have her catalog. Over time, there will be plenty of things to collaborate on between Warner Bros. and Madonna, so we're not completely out of business with her. Any opportunity that comes up where we can work together we look forward to."
There's also an interview with the manager, Live Nation's Arthur Fogel and a Warner Bros. Recods Chairman/CEO, Tom Whalley. Arthur Fogel says the 2008-2009 tour was executed perfectly, the North American stadium shows drew criticism in advance but turned out to be huge successes, along with the 2009 shows in new markets. All her previous tours this decade had talks about an extension, but it only managed to happen for Sticky & Sweet. He also "feels" that Madonna could do (and probably will do) Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Southeast Asia on the next tour. Beyond that, "it's a question of time we have and what kind of show she's thinking about."
Guy Oseary says the relationship with Live Nation is amazing, because they never put pressure on them and they are friends. Both men claim the long-term LN deal didn't have a direct impact on Sticky & Sweet, and all the synergies in merchandising, branding, licensing and recording are "the future, the next level. That's when we start incorporating our albums into things. We have yet to scratch the surface on what the future holds."
He also says they have no immediate ideas about the next step because "we got off tour not so long ago, we're taking a breath, then we're going to start meeting with people and hearing ideas. The only thing Madonna and I have asked for is not to be limited, meaning, I want to hear everything and anything. We're open to anything. The goal is to reach as many people as possible, that's the prerequisite. We're aiming high."
Warner Chairman/CEO Tom Whalley claims Madonna is the quintessential Warner Bros. artist, selling 200 million albums worldwide. He reveals Warner Bros. is indeed releasing the Sticky & Sweet Tour on DVD (no release date given though) and they are expecting it to do well because The Confessions Tour sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. He calls the parting with Madonna bittersweet but "We always wish her the best and we will continue to do things with her because we have her catalog. Over time, there will be plenty of things to collaborate on between Warner Bros. and Madonna, so we're not completely out of business with her. Any opportunity that comes up where we can work together we look forward to."
As we're nearing the end of the decade, a lot of best of lists are getting published these days. Latest is the 100 Best Songs of the Decade by Rolling Stone magazine, where Madonna has two entries: the first two songs of the Celebration compilation, Hung Up at #76 and Music at #66. For the latter, they even give a small write up:
Despite all the new pop starlets out there trying to jump her train, Madonna definitely was not slackening the pace. When she dropped Music, she was older than Britney and Christina combined, yet she took them to school with vintage electro-boom, Eurodisco flourishes from French producer Mirwais, and her own inimitable sass.
Despite all the new pop starlets out there trying to jump her train, Madonna definitely was not slackening the pace. When she dropped Music, she was older than Britney and Christina combined, yet she took them to school with vintage electro-boom, Eurodisco flourishes from French producer Mirwais, and her own inimitable sass.