MADONNA – “AMERICAN LIFE” 

I/ ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 

• April 21st:            Rest of the World [not Friday the 18th] !!!!!!

• April 22nd:            USA, Canada

II/ SECURITY:

As you can understand, this album has to be kept under extremely tight security. Steve and I are looking for some way to make the album or at least some songs available to you asap. More info soon.

III/ ALBUM: 

• Title:                             “American Life”

• Label:                           Warner Bros. [the Maverick logo appears but it is a WB release]

• Producer:                    Madonna & Mirwais Ahmadzai

PA version / Enhanced CD                                 UPC: 9362 48439-2
Non PA version / Enhanced CD                        UPC: 9362 48476-2
PA version / Enhanced CD (UK version)         UPC: 9362 48454-2
Cassette                                                                  UPC: 9362 48439-4                 
Special Edition package (enhanced)                  UPC: 9362 48440-2

The content of the enhancement is as follows.

• Links to Madonna.com and wbr.com websites

• Email signup

• Links to “extras” (tbc)

Here’s a description of the Ltd. edition.  

2-piece telescoping box with styrene tray to hold disc Box-top is covered in White "leatherette" fabric and foil-stamped in Black and Red (inside of box top is lined in red paper) Box-bottom is covered in Black "linen" fabric (inside of box is black board) Black thermoformed plastic tray sets in box bottom to hold CD disc (note, this may change to a digi tray on a platform)

US version of album CD

23" x 35" poster insert, printed 4/c on Newsprint stock, folded to fit into box (note, the flat size will probably be somewhat smaller*)

Possible sticker
One 3/c CD label
One 2/c "Info" card or Sticker, carrying lineup, legal lines, and UPC code, shrinkwrapped to the back 

The album tracklisting is as follows:

1. American Life
2. Hollywood
3. I’m So Stupid
4. Love Profusion
5. Nobody Knows Me
6. Nothing Fails
7. Intervention
8. X-Static Process
9. Mother & Father
10. Die Another Day [from the MGM Motion Picture Die Another Day]
11. Easy Ride

Joe Maddern will send you the credits and lyrics once they are available. Fyi, the lyrics won’t be included in the album.

There will be a sticker. The exact text is currently being decided.

IV/ ROYALTY BREAK:

There is a royalty break clause included in the contract. Please send your requests to Joe and myself. Make sure that your dates and $ spends match the information you will include in your marketing plans. If the info doesn’t match, it will obviously delay the approval process.

V/ ARTWORK / MERCHANDISING:

The album artwork is being designed by M/M (team based in Paris, France), famous for their work on the Bjork album and Kevin Regan is also involved (he also worked on Music and GHV2).

The album cover is on Imagenet. Please use it to publicize the forthcoming album. Don’t use it for any other purposes.

VI/ PHOTOS:

Madonna did one photo session with Craig McDean for packaging. These shots will be available on April 15^th.
Photos have also been shot on the video set by Dan Smith. 5 shots have already been uploaded on Imagenet. 6 new Dan smith photos will be uploaded tonight. Please use those in monthlies only, not for dailies newspapers use until April 1^st.
Marina will send you a separate email regarding the exact use of the photos.

VII/ SINGLE : “American Life”:

A/ RADIO (also see New Media section):

Fyi, the US Radio date local time is 6AM Eastern time or 11AM GMT on March 24th
Radio airdate (local time):           
March 24:       Europe, South Africa, USA , Canada, Latin America
March 25:            South East Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand

The Int’l Pro CD (PRO3908) includes the following 2 tracks:

• 1. American Life [radio edit with rap]            4.17

• 2. American Life [radio edit without rap]            4.03

PLEASE, AS WITH LINKIN PARK, DO NOT SEND/MAIL ANY PRO-CD BEFORE THE ACTUAL RADIO DATE !!!!

A snippet of 20” of the song has been sent to you on March 6^th. It can be used on the radio, web, etc… An internet player is also available since Monday the 9th. The idea is to spread this player on internet/radio/retailers/TVs, websites, etc… to start the build-up on the single/album.

Fyi, a snippet of the single will be included as musical theme of an HBO trailer in the US starting March 19^th. With the events that are currently happening in the US, it is good to position Madonna’s music in a positive environment, promoting the American Life.

B/ COMMERCIAL:

The single will be sold digitally (including an exclusive Madonna message)  on March 24. The digital presales start on March 4th. WMG asked that this online sale is restricted to US Zip code buyers only.

The US 2 tracks Cd single commercial release is set on April 8^th. The International release date for the 2 tracks and 3 tracks CD single is April 14^th.

The single cover showing Madonna carrying a gun is being reworked, for obvious reasons. We should have anew approved shot by Thursday morning. Therefore, in the meantime, please use the album cover (which is also the pro-cd single cover) for your ads / pre-sales sheet. 

April 8^th            US 7” Jukebox single              5439 16658-7
1. American Life      [edit with Rap]      4.17
2. Die Another Day [Richard Humpty Vission edit]

April 8^th            US Cd single            (jewelcase)     5439 16658-2              
1. American Life      [edit with Rap]      4.17
2. Die Another Day [Calderone & Quayle After Life Mix] 

International Single tracklisting are not yet determined. We’re waiting for the exact timing of all the mixes to build the line-up.  ALL THE TRACKLISTINGS ARE TENTATIVE AND SHOULDN’T BE PUBLICIZED YET !!!!!!!!

April 14^th            Int’l Cd single (slimline jewelcase)            5439 16656-2            [new format]

April 14^th            Int’l Cd single            (cardboard)   5439 16658-2                      
1. American Life      [edit with Rap]      4.17
2. Die Another Day [Calderone & Quayle After Life Mix]

April 14^th            Int’l 3 tracks Cd Maxi #1        9362- 42615-2
1. American Life      [edit with Rap]      4.17
2. Tbd
3. Tbd

April 14^th            Int’l 3 tracks Cd Maxi #2        9362- 42616-2
1. American Life [tbd]
2. Tbd
3. Tbd

April 29^th            US Maxi-12” (2 disc)                 9362 42614-0          
1. American Life [Missy Elliot remix]
2. American Life [Peter Rauhofer’s American Anthem remix]
3. American Life [Paul Oakenfold remix]
4. American Life [Felix Da Housecat remix]
5. American Life [Layo & Bushwacka remix]

There may be a maxi-cd only version of this combo pack. More news tomorrow.

April 29^th  US Maxi-Cd/DVD (double layer disc – tbc)            9362 42614-2        
1. American Life [Missy Elliot remix]
2. American Life [Peter Rauhofer’s American Anthem remix]
3. American Life [Paul Oakenfold remix]
4. American Life [Felix Da Housecat remix]
5. American Life [Layo & Bushwacka remix]
 6. Die Another Day [Calderone & Quayle After Lifer Mix]
7. Die Another Day [Richard Humpty Vision edit]
DVD section: American Life video

VIII/ VIDEO:

“American Life” is directed by Jonas Akerlund (“Ray Of Light”, “Music”) and was shot in Los Angeles on Feb. 6^th and 7th. The delivery of the video has been delayed.
The video date has now been set to march 31^st or April 1st (tbc- see above). We’ve asked to get a 30” trailer available on March 24^th though. All the dates will be decided by tomorrow, following a meeting between Tom Whalley and Management.

IX/ NEW MEDIA INFORMATION (also see Radio section):

A snippet of 20” of the song was sent to you on March 6^th. It can be used on the radio, web, etc… An internet player is now available. Go to http://www.bandbuilder.com/madonna to get it and distribute it asap. Please remember that this is just version 1 and a much more exciting player will be coming soon.

You radio stations or affiliates should sign up at http://www.bandbuilder.com/madonna/partner/corporate/

After they have signed up, they will receive a referral code and banners to advertise the player on their site.

Our new-media dept. is currently working with all the major ISPs to create a wwide campaign.

Huge plans are being discussed with AOL, MSN and YAHOO. I have asked many times that there are no worldwide exclusives with any of these ISPs. If there is, it will be restricted to the US only and all the affiliates will have the same content at the same time.

Fyi, the AOL sessions are still under discussion and are not confirmed.

You can stream the single online starting on March 24/25 (local time) but not before 6AM US Eastern time or 11 AM GMT on March 24^th.

X/ INTERNATIONAL LONG LEAD PRESS / PUBLICITY / PROMO VISITS:

Phase I – US (Int’l long lead):

Madonna has done radio IDs on Tuesday March 4^th.  They have been sent to all of you last week. For those who haven’t requested a special message, we’ve sent you a generic ID message.

Madonna will do a on-camera generic interview on March 24^th [video portion for TV use and Audio portion for radio use].

An album press release have been sent.

We’re still expecting the bio. The interview for the bio will take place on March 24.

International long-lead press in L.A. scheduled on March 26^th.

Madonna has already done an interview with Q Magazine. It will be published in the April issue (out March 30). The photos are part of the Dan Smith sessions.

Phase II – US (Domestic promotion) 

Madonna will probably do some domestic interview/TV shows around the album release in the US including: Letterman, Regis & Kelly, MTV, NBC, ET, Access Hollywood, CNN, etc… As soon as the shows are confirmed, we’ll let you know.

Phase III – EUROPE (Promo Trip):

April 28 - May 9 (tbc). We’re waiting for the traveling party costs to determine the details of the trip. If we go ahead, Madonna will travel to the UK, Germany, France and Sweden. Please contact your regional offices and Marina Van Wormer.

Phase IV – JAPAN (Promo Trip):

May-June (tbc): Madonna may go to Japan (tbc). Currently investigating