For years - decades, even - fans have wondered when Madonna's catalogue would get the kind of deluxe treatment befitting her stature as a trailblazer. It now looks like that day is coming soon, as early this morning, the artist and Warner Music Group announced a career-spanning partnership. The new deal between Madonna and WMG (already her home for the first 24 years of her career on the Sire, Maverick, and Warner labels) sees that WMG will represent her entire body of work in both recordings and publishing. Significantly, it's been revealed that a multi-year catalogue series will launch in 2022, the 40th anniversary of her debut single.
The seven-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's best-selling female artist of all time, with more than 300 million units sold worldwide. Her 17 studio albums are all included in the deal, as well as singles, soundtracks, live albums, and compilations. Her three most recent studio albums for Interscope (MDNA, Rebel Heart, and Madame X) will join the WMG roster in 2025. The catalogue series launching in 2022 will be personally curated by Madonna and feature "expansive deluxe editions for many of her landmark albums." The series will also "introduce unique releases for special events and much more." Kevin Gore, the label's President of Global Catalog, will oversee the campaign. An announcement is promised "soon" for the initial release.
Madonna comments in the press release, "Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world with the utmost care and consideration. They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my catalogue from the last 40 years." Her manager Guy Oseary adds, "Over the past 30 years, I've been fortunate enough to meet and spend time with many of Madonna's incredible fans, and this new partnership will bring to fruition what so many of them have been patiently waiting for: a celebration of her groundbreaking catalogue. My partner Sara Zambreno and I are working closely with Warner Music Group to bring new life to these iconic works."
Their enthusiasm is shared by Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music for WMG. He states, "We're honored to be forming a dynamic new partnership with an incomparable superstar whose influence on our musical and artistic landscape is immense and immutable. Madonna has changed the course of pop and dance music, while taking live performance to new heights of drama and invention. At the same time, she uses her fame to amplify some of the most important social issues and movements of our time. Constantly and fearlessly challenging convention, her four decades of music are not only an extraordinary body of work, but a playbook for creative and cultural evolution."
Madonna's new documentary Madame X will debut October 8 on the Paramount+ streaming service and MTV in international markets not served by Paramount+. Certainly, there's plenty of gold to be mined in the superstar's rich catalogue. Between 2010 and 2013, The Second Disc imagined deluxe editions for Madonna (1983), Like a Virgin (1984), and Like a Prayer (1989). Sound off below on what you'd most like to see from a Madonna catalogue series, and stay tuned for The Second Disc for further announcements arising from this landmark deal.
The Weekend Stream: November 16, 2024
Finally. I love your imaginings of these great albums.
Today is Madonna's 63rd birthday. The right rime to advertise this deluxe series.
Looking forward to this. Her old stuff is superior to anything these she’s put out these past few years.
Actually I disagree...yes her earlier stuff is classic but the last 2 "Rebel Heart" & "Madam X" are artistic masterworks...and overall, my fave is "Ray of Light" from 1998...
Some of her concert videos have never appeared on DVD. Perhaps this reissue campaign could provide an outlet for them.
Amen Phil!
I read the title of this article before even reading it and had to laugh. I have been in the process of trying to locate Madonna's extended mixes for much of the past few months, as after so much time I doubted expanded album versions would ever occur. I have purchased a number of the Japan CD EP's that include these mixes, as well as Japan CD album issues. Now she says "OK, let's do this." LOL
... maybe even the "Sex" book...?
Record companies and musicians are so forgiving when they smell money.
Just wondering if there will be cd re-issues available, or is it vinyl only??? I do worry about the phrase "The series will also “introduce unique releases for special events and much more.” erm Record Store days ??? and those mainly celebrate vinyl .. very few cds ever hit RSD ..
However i do have her "Celebration" dvd collection (songs in chronological order, and in 5.1 surround) .. so if no cds that'll have to do ..
Long live the Queen of pop
I hope they release the music remix album Veronica Electronica. Fingers crossed 🤞
Perhaps a smart way to release these expansions, given that not everyone likes the recent material as much as the original classics, would be to go from the bookends inward.
In other words, re-release her debut along with 'Madame X', then 'Like a Virgin' along with 'Rebel Heart' and so forth. That would end the campaign with 'Ray of Light' and 'Music'.
I'm not sure how else then could sustain interest throughout...
"they" not "then": I’m not sure how else they could sustain interest throughout…
Jellybean's single remix of "Borderline" has always sounded like an edit to me (there's a rough sounding splice/cut about three quarters into the track). I'd like a deluxe First Album to have an unedited/extended version of this mix. Is Jellybean on social media?
I'd also like the single remix of "Open Your Heart" - it was the single version outside of the USA.