AC/DC Sign Big Contract With Sony

AC/DC have made a record label jump from long-time home Atlantic to Sony in a big-time deal which was just completed recently. Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Thomas D. Motolla said the rockers signed a multifaceted agreement with SME for a long-term, multi-album deal in which all new material from the band will be released through Sony label Epic Records.

Sony will also re-release entire album catalog, including classics Back In Black and Highway To Hell. The albums will be updated and improved, with restored original album art, enhanced CD booklets that will include bonus photos and additional liner notes. And when popped into your PC, the discs will also include information to unlock a "secret" web site with a whole whack of extra stuff. While it is a huge surprise that the band made the move to Sony after almost 20 years with Atlantic, it all sort of makes sense. Epic Records Chairman David R. Glew helped out AC/DC's musical career in their early years when he was Vice President/General Manager of Atlantic, and Epic Vice President and General Manager Steve Barnett used to be the band's manager.

"AC/DC is one of the greatest bands in the history of music," Polly Anthony, President of Epic Records, said today. "I know I speak for everyone on the Epic team when I say we're honored to welcome these history-making artists to the label, and fully committed to doing whatever it takes to further expand the audience for their music."

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, AC/DC is #5 on the list of bands with the highest number of albums sold, Back In Black being the sixth highest selling album in history. The band will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2003.