Perez Hilton |
HOLLYWOOD - Although he says on his Web site that it was meant to remain a secret, Perez Hilton is today facing a leak regarding himself rather than the celebs he has made a business gossiping about.
Not that it’s a bad thing for Perez; the New York Times is reporting that the blogger is negotiating a deal that would give him his own imprint at Warner Bros. Records.
The deal would see Mario Lavandeira--Perez’s real name--receive $100,000 a year as an advance against 50% of any profits generated by music artists he discovers and releases through Warner Bros.
The talks are preliminary, and an agreement is not certain, people close to the deal told the New York Times.
However, on his blog today, Lavandeira writes, “Let's hope (the article) doesn't jinx things. It's not a done deal yet! But, we're very, very excited about the possibility. It will happen. It will!”
The agreement would help support Lavandeira’s claims that he has an ear for more than the latest celebrity scoop. More than that, though, a label deal would be recognition of the influence that blogs can wield in generating word of mouth about music, notes the NYT.
Indeed, Lavandeira’s seal of approval has already proved valuable to up-and-coming acts. In September the unsigned singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson received a boost after Lavandeira posted a link to his music and lavished praise on it. Hutchinson’s album then cracked the Top 10 on iTunes.
Despite formal ties to a record label, Lavandeira said he would still remain objective. Last month, he told the NYT that he would still have the freedom to rave about artists on rival labels and had no obligation to praise acts on Warner Brothers’ roster.
“I’m upfront with them,” he said. “They can’t tell me what to do. If I hate one of their artists, chances are I won’t mention them.”
“There’s no need to trash them,” he added. “Unless they do something stupid.”
He told the Times that for now he is keeping the names of acts he hopes to sign to himself. He did say that his partnership could validate the role that blogs and similar sites can play in the music business. Madonna, he noted, is departing Warner Music after her next album to release her future recordings through a concert promoter.
“I think I could do a lot for them,” he said. “Madonna’s leaving, Perez is coming."
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