Live Nation, U2 sign agreement

Live Nation Inc. said Monday that it had reached an agreement for a 12-year global contract to handle the merchandising, digital and branding rights as well as the touring of Irish rock band U2.
The deal with U2, one of the world's biggest rock bands, comes just five months after Live Nation announced a comprehensive partnership with pop star Madonna, which included her coveted recording rights. Live Nation said U2 would continue the band's long-term recording and publishing relationship with Universal Music Group, a unit of French media giant Vivendi. (LA Times, PR)