Following the groundbreaking signings with Madonna, U2, and Jay-Z, Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) is rumored to be courting The Rolling Stones away from privately held EMI Group, according to British music newspaper NME. The newspaper quotes a report from the print edition of The Observer, that the band is going to sign a deal with Live Nation that would allow the live music events company to "take over the marketing of the group's back catalogue, worth over £3 million (roughly $6 million) a year," in addition to typical touring and merchandising rights.

The Rolling Stones have been with EMI in the UK since the band started its own label in 1970, although initially only in a distribution agreement before the band shifted to EMI's Virgin Records by 1976. The band's contract with EMI expired earlier this year and they signed a one album deal with Universal Music Group to release the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese-helmed live film Shine A Light. In late 2005, the band also released a special compilation through Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX).

Assuming the band does not return to EMI, as this report indicates and the band has strongly denied, the band follows Paul McCartney and Radiohead, among others, on their way out of the troubled music company. However, though EMI is troubled, Live Nation has lured artists from other music companies as well. For The Rolling Stones, signing with Live Nation would be natural since the band consistently has long and successful tours, with and without the release of albums with new material. The soundtrack to Shine A Light has also sold well, with more copies sold than previous live albums from the band.