EMI Wins World Rights For Live 8 DVDs
June 27, 2005
By Emmanuel Legrand

EMI has secured the worldwide DVD rights to July 2 Live 8 concerts in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.

The British record company has concluded what it describes as "a unique agreement" with the Live 8 organization, by which it provided Live 8 with "a major financial contribution" in return for the worldwide DVD rights.

Sources said EMI provided Live 8 with a multi-million dollar advance, which will contribute to offset the production costs of the various concerts.

In a statement, Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof said, "We are very grateful to EMI for their financial contribution which helped to make the July 2 concerts happen everywhere on the planet and thus nudge the world a little closer towards our shared aim."

It is understood that the deal has been negotiated at the highest level at EMI, with the involvement of EMI Music chairman/CEO of Alain Levy, EMI Music U.K. and Ireland chairman/CEO Tony Wadsworth and EMI Continental Europe chairman/CEO Jean-Francois Cecillon.

The DVDs will be released around the world in November, with a series of locally-tailored DVDs featuring live footage from the concerts.

Geldof said he hoped it would become "the biggest selling DVD of all time. It deserves to be."