The current issue of Billboard magazine reports that McDonalds restaurants has once again signed a deal to distribute inexpensive CDs, and mentions that the last time this was done, EMI was the partner with Roxette and Garth Brooks involved. Regular music retailers were furious with the arrangement.

This time around, there will be various compilations — including one from Jive with N'Sync and Britney Spears.

The former head of EMI in the States, who now is a principal in a recording industry finance company, was involved in putting this marketing deal together.