英语听力精选进阶版 13601

Jackson's record record deal

Summary

17 March 2010

Record company Sony have signed a deal to release old and new songs by the late pop star Michael Jackson. The deal is worth about $250 million and is the biggest ever made for any artist, living or dead.

Reporter:

Rajesh Mirchandani

Report

The deal with Michael Jackson's long-time record company Sony is worth up to a quarter of a billion dollars over seven years. It's the biggest ever and includes ten projects. Among them at least one album of entirely¹ new songs Jackson recorded before he died.

Some old hits will be re-issued as well, perhaps re-mixed for a younger audience. And a DVD of his music videos is likely too.

It's a bonanza² for fans but also a shrewd bet on his future bankability. Pop stars often earn money after they have died, but nothing on this scale. More than 30 million Michael Jackson albums have been sold since his death, making him one of the highest-earning artists of last year.

It means Michael Jackson's estate can look forward to huge earnings³, benefitting his children, his mother and several charities.

It will also help to pay off some of the $400 million in debt the star left behind.

The contract dwarfs⁴ those for other stars. In recent years rap mogul Jay-Z signed a deal worth $150 million and Madonna for $120 million.

Rajesh Mirchandani, BBC, Los Angeles

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 bonanza   

n.富矿带，幸运，带来好运的事

参考例句：

• Bargain hunters enjoyed a real bonanza today.到处买便宜货的人今天真是交了好运。
• What a bonanza for the winning ticket holders!对于手持胜券的人来说，这是多好的运气啊。

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 dwarfs   

n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Shakespeare dwarfs other dramatists. 莎士比亚使其他剧作家相形见绌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The new building dwarfs all the other buildings in the town. 新大楼使城里所有其他建筑物都显得矮小了。 来自辞典例句