Iron Maiden to Leave Sanctuary Artist Management?
Nick Hasell of Times Online has issued the following report:Iron Maiden, one the world's best-selling heavy metal bands, has put its contract with Sanctuary Group up for review amid talks to take its business to Andy Taylor, the music group's ousted co-founder and former chief executive.
The loss of Maiden would be a severe blow to Sanctuary. The band, famously spotted by Mr. Taylor in a London pub in 1979, are its oldest client. The discussions come ahead of the European release next week of "A Matter of Life and Death", Maiden's latest album, and the start of a world tour in October, which promise to make the band a particularly significant contributor to Sanctuary's near-term profits.
Pete De Vroome, managing director of Iron Maiden Holdings, the corporate entity that encompasses the band’s interests, said of the contracts with Sanctuary: "All of these are under review." He confirmed that there had been discussions with Mr. Taylor, which are thought to have been under way for several months.
It is thought that the principal, and most lucrative, deal under negotiation is to take Iron Maiden's management contract, currently with Sanctuary Artist Management, to Mr. Taylor. However, the band also has numerous subsidiary contracts with Sanctuary.
Friday night (August 25), a source close to the company said: "All artists' contracts come up for discussion from time to time. This one is no different." Mr. Taylor could not be reached for comment.