Chad Kroeger’s Nickelback are the latest big-name band to sign on with Live Nation. According to reports, it sounds like the band have entered into a 360 degree deal that encompasses albums, tours and merchandise.

The new deal is thought to be worth $50-70 million for the band, which should keep them in ripped jeans and t-shirts well into their retirement.

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Madonna has just announced her summer tour, the dubiously titled “Sticky & Sweet” tour. The tour will begin in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 23 August 2008 and will travel across the UK and Europe through to the end of September.

The will be further dates in North America in October and November, finishing up in South America and Mexico toward the end of the year.

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Isn’t it funny that Live Nation barely crossed our radar a few years ago, and yet here they are, merrily signing up major artists like they were collecting stamps!

Live Nation’s signing of U2 isn’t nearly as far reaching as their arrangement with Madonna – they’ll merely be looking after “merchandising, digital and branding rights” for the band. So, no ‘tipping the music industry on it’s head’ stories here then…

In reality, this is just a formalising of an ongoing business relationship between U2 and Live Nation – which will see the company manage U2’s online affairs and branding for the next 12 years. In a typically dumb soundbyte, Mr Bono said:

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