Whitney Houston has signed a new, exclusive multi-album deal with Arista, valued at more than $100 million. The deal, which the label says is the biggest in its history, would appear to top Mariah Carey’s recent signing to Virgin Records, which was said to be worth about $20 million per album.
“I am so excited with this new deal and I’m looking forward to going into the studio soon to start work on my next album,” Houston said in a statement. “Arista Records has been my home since the beginning of my career. I am happy to be continuing the relationship and I look forward to working with [Arista president Antonio] ‘L.A.’ Reid and the new Arista family.”
Houston, who has been with the label since 1983, is Arista’s best-selling artist, having sold more than 140 million records worldwide. Through her career, she has charted such Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits as “The Greatest Love of All,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Saving All My Love For You.”
She was signed to the label by Arista’s founder and former leader, Clive Davis, who left Arista last year and started J Records.
Houston has also branched out into acting, starring in the hit “The Bodyguard” and other movies such as “Waiting to Exhale.” Along with acting and singing, Houston has expanded into producing movies. Besides the successful Disney special “Cinderella,” starring pop singer Brandy, Houston is the executive director of the new film “The Princess Diaries.”
found marijuana in her purse. A petty misdemeanor drug charge was dismissed against Houston earlier this year after a drug counselor filed an assessment with prosecutors stating that Houston did not require treatment for substance abuse.
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