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.
Many majors see the live market as where they can continue to make money, writing in contract clauses that give them a cut of the band's take of merch and door while on tour. It's yet another hand in the already-full pockets of bands willing to sign to majors and another way their grip will strengthen in the coming years, even as they bemoan the "death" of their industry.
...and that is "shitergy". Love Clear Channel's stranglehold on the people's airwaves? Wait 'til they aggressively continue this sort of synergy, fold in what labels are left standing, buy out Ticketmaster (and TM's dominant Facebook app iLike,) and consolidate all their holdings into over-the-hill dinosaur acts like Madonna, and the next Nickleback and Hannah Montana.
And for any trolls that stumble across this thread in their Google alerts, yes: OMG CORPORATIONS IS SO EVIL LOL.