Shakira and Antonio’s Parisian Outing

Spotted again earlier today in the City of Lights, Shakira looks as though she’s taken well to the French capital as she chatted on her mobile phone while doing a little sightseeing.

The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress looked cute and casual in a purple v-neck sweater along with a pair of figure-flattering jeans and black platform heels.

Earlier this week, Shakira had a monumental meeting with former hostage/Columbian political figure Ingrid Betancourt and her son Lorenzo. And it sounds like they’re working together for a good cause.

Both women will be involved this weekend in a worldwide protest against the FARC (the abductors of Betancourt). Ingrid and Columbian pop singer Juanes will head a march in Paris while Shakira holds a concert on the Columbian border with Peru and Brazil.

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SHAKIRA - SHAKIRA MEETS COLOMBIAN CAPTIVE

SHAKIRA has flown to Paris, France to meet recently freed political prisoner INGRID BETANCOURT.
The singer was the first celebrity to note the rescue of 15 captives who were held by revolutionaries in her native Colombia, releasing a statement on the day Betancourt was freed.
And, on Wednesday (16Jul08), Shakira met the former Colombian presidential candidate at the Hotel Meurice in Paris.
In her former statement, Shakira hailed the hostage rescue as "a historic day for all of us, for this country that has suffered a lot."
The singer added, "What a proud day to be Colombian!"

Shakira and Ingrid Betancourt: Parisian Pals

It looks like Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal aren’t the only celebrities living it up in the City of Lights. Shakira was spotted enjoying all that Paris had to offer earlier today (July 16) with Columbian political figure Ingrid Betancourt and her son Lorenzo.

The “Underneath Your Clothes” singer looked dashing in a black ensemble as she made her way out of the Hotel Meurice on her way to see the sights.

And it sounds like Shakira has a newfound fortune at her disposal after signing a 10 year contract with LiveNation. According to reports, the deal will encompass tours, recordings, sponsorship, and merchandise throughout the world.

The best part? Insiders are estimating that the whole package is worth between $70 million and $100 million, making Shakira one rich lady!

Enjoy the pictures of Shakira and Ingrid Betancourt spending time together in Paris (July 16).

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Photo Credit: WireImage.com

For The Record: Shakira, David Cook, Heidi Montag & More

· Despite the recent departure of the man who started the whole mega-deal trend at Live Nation, it looks like Shakira may be the next artist to sign a multimillion-dollar pact with the touring giant. Reports say a deal worth a potential $70 million for the Latin star’s touring, merchandising and recording could be wrapped before the end of the month.

· “American Idol” winner David Cook loves Hinder and, apparently, the boozy hard rockers love him right back. Singer Austin Winkler said he’s a fan and would like to write some songs for Cook’s debut album.

· Heidi Montag has done it again. “The Hills” star, who recently talked about wanting to record a Christian album, has followed up her ode to “Fashion” with an homage to … drinking. The Britney-esque Euro club banger “One More Drink” features lines like “Sipping on that happy juice,” “I’m drinking on that Goose” and “I’m getting lost in this liquid high.”

· Don’t like the way Alanis Morissette sings on her new album, Flavors of Entanglement? Then check out the karaoke contest she’s holding on her MySpace page, and if she likes your version you could win two tickets to the Alanis show of your choice and an autographed microphone.

· Rape charges filed in Jackson, Mississippi, against Poison drummer Rikki Rockett were dropped after authorities determined that the man they are looking for is likely an imposter who passes himself off as the glam-metal musician in order to pick up women. Rockett (born Richard Ream) said he was with his fiancee watching her try on wedding dresses at the time the alleged crime occurred.

· Lindsay and Ali Lohan might soon get some musical competition from a sibling they didn’t even know existed. Ashley Kaufmann, the alleged illegitimate child of Michael Lohan, is reportedly approaching labels about a record deal. And an unnamed industry insider said she has “more talent than Lindsay or Ali.” Really?

Shakira Gyrates Onto the Live Nation Bandwagon // GetDaGoss.com

Colombian singing sensation Shakira has reportedly signed a long-term ten year deal with Live Nation.
Her deal is estimated to be worth between 70-100 million dollars. $70M for ten years? That comes out to roughly $7M per year before taxes, agent fees, publicists, etc. I thought international pop stars made crazy money. Considering the state of our dollar, if she's smart she'd pull a Gisele Bündchen and re-negotiate it in Euros.
She follows in the footsteps of Madonna, Jay-Z, and U2 by aligning herself with the concert powerhouse. They will be responsible for recordings, concerts, merchandising, and other aspects of her career.
She is still obligated to deliver three more records to her current label, Epic Records. Will she still be worth anything in four records time from now? Pop careers are as fleeting as fashion trends. Your memory will probably be fuzzy, but remember when Mya, Lauryn Hill and Toni Braxton were hot commodities in the music industry?
Now that Madonna is no longer contractually obligated to Warner Music Group, it will be interesting to see if her first foray with Live Nation will bring back a return on their huge investment.

Shakira sings for hostages' freedom

Colombian pop star Shakira performs during the 'concert for peace'

Shakira led the way for her compatriots as Colombians came out to demonstrate for the freedom of the remaining hostages held by leftist rebels.

Well over a million Colombians, clad in white and shouting 'No more kidnapping', marked their independence day with marches and concerts demanding freedom for the remaining detainees.

Demonstrators chanted Libertad! - the Spanish word for freedom - in rallies across the Andean nation and in some 40 cities abroad, including Paris, London, Miami, Beijing, Sydney and New York.

It was the second nationwide mobilisation this year against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In the jungle border city of Leticia, native daughter Shakira performed after singing the national anthem at a military parade presided over by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the presidents of Brazil and Peru attending.

"Militarist" Colombia celebrates independence without military parade

Neocommunist commentators and pundits live their lives trying to convince Venezuelans and the world of two factoids about Venezuelan-Colombian relations:

1. Colombia and Álvaro Uribe are militarist and, therefore a menace to regional peace.
2. Venezuela and Hugo Chávez are peaceful and loving revolutionaries.

Contrast between Colombia's and Venezuela's independence celebrations. In Colombia they give a concert with Shakira, while in Venezuela they give a military parade (Photos courtesy of Venezuela y su historia & Radio Nacional de Venezuela).

Isn't it curious then that Colombia celebrates her independence day with a concert with Shakira as main star, while Hugo Chávez celebrates Venezuela's independence with a military parade?

As professor Balladares does I want to send a heartfelt congratulation to my Colombian friends, for such civilized way to celebrate their independence.

Rock in Rio 2008 - Full Shakira Performance

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Forbes' Top-Earning Women In Music: Shakira #4

Landing the No. 4 spot is Shakira, 30, the Colombian-born crossover phenom who earned $38 million. The multiple-Grammy-winning star swiveled those famously nimble hips on an astonishing 98 tour stops during the period. (She made headlines when she audited history classes at UCLA on the West Coast leg of the tour.) In November, Shakira appeared on the soundtrack for the film adaptation of Love in the Time of Cholera.

1. Madonna - $72 million
2. Barbra Streisand - $60 million
3. Celine Dion - $45 million
4. Shakira - $38 million
5. Beyoncé - $27 million
6. Gwen Stefani - $26 million
7. Christina Aguilera - $20 million
8. Faith Hill - $19 million
9. Dixie Chicks - $18 million
10. Mariah Carey - $13 million
11. Hilary Duff - $12 million
12. Avril Lavigne - $12 million
13. Martina McBride - $12 million
14. Britney Spears - $8 million
15. Carrie Underwood - $7 million
16. Nelly Furtado - $7 million
17. Fergie - $6 million
18. Jennifer Lopez - $6 million
19. Sheryl Crow - $6 million
20. Norah Jones - $5.5 million

Shakira to Ink a 70 Million Dollar Deal With Live Nation?

According to the latest reports the iconic Latin singer is being lined up by the renown tour promoter company to be the latest musician they will sign.

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Latin pop star Shakira reportedly is set to follow the trail of Madonna and Jay-Z as the latest musician that signs a mega deal with tour promoter Live Nation. According to the latest reports, the Colombian born singer is still in talks with the company but it is expected that the deal would be finalized before the end of the year.

The mega deal, which is being called the 360-degree-deal, according to the New York Post would be worth about $70 million and will give Live Nation the rights to handle the singer's tour, merchandising and recording. Although $70 million is a huge amount of cash, a source close to Shakira stated that the pop singer should have worth more than that. "That's rich for an organization that wants to be [conservative] with these kinds of deals," the source said.

Despite that the contract would include the company's control over Shakira's albums distribution, it seems that it won't be happening at least until in late 2009 as the singer is currently still under contract with Epic Records. The pop singer still has the obligation to release two more studio albums, one in English and another in Spanish, and also one greatest hits record.

But according the the reports, Live Nation doesn't actually expect much of Shakira's album's selling as they think that her strong point is on her world tour especially on her Latin America tour which continually sells out. "Shakira's numbers outside the US are crazy stupid [meaning great]," said a source to the New York Post.

Shakira Signs With Live Nation

Shakira, above, has become the latest pop star to leave a major record company for Live Nation, the international touring giant that has begun signing marquee names for lucrative all-purpose contracts. After months of speculation Shakira, the 31-year-old Colombian singer of Lebanese descent who is a strong international touring draw, has signed a 10-year deal that encompasses tours, recordings, sponsorship and merchandise. Neither Shakira’s representatives nor Live Nation would disclose the value of the deal, but people close to the negotiations, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss them, said that depending on Shakira’s performance over the 10 years, it would probably be worth $70 million to $100 million. Shakira’s contract with Epic Records calls for three more albums — one in English, one in Spanish and a compilation — but the touring and other rights of the Live Nation deal would begin immediately

Shakira Leaves Record Company for Live Nation

Shakira has become the latest pop star to leave the major record companies for Live Nation, the international touring giant that has begun signing up marquee names for lucrative all-purpose contracts. After months of speculation, Shakira, a 31-year-old Colombian singer of Lebanese descent who is a strong international touring draw, has signed a 10-year deal with Live Nation that will encompass tours, recordings, sponsorship and merchandise throughout the world, she announced. Neither Shakira's representatives nor Live Nation would confirm the value of the deal, but people close to the negotiations said that depending on Shakira's performance over the 10 years, it is likely to be worth between $70 million and $100 million. Shakira's contract with Epic Records calls for three more albums -- one in English, one in Spanish, and a compilation -- but the touring and other rights of the Live Nation deal would begin immediately.