Madonna 2003–present: Commercial ups and downs
 Madonna released her ninth studio album, American Life, in April 2003. The lyrics were themed on the aspects of the American dream, fame, fortune and society. The record received mixed reviews. The music video for the first single, American Life, caused controversy, as it contained scenes depicting war, explosions, and blood.
Madonna in the original version of American Life video.The day before the video was to air on European television, Madonna pulled it and released an edited version, which showed her singing in front of flags from around the world. The song peaked at thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, it reached number two on the charts. Having sold five million copies, American Life became the lowest selling album of her career. It produced three more singles, (Hollywood, Nothing Fails and Love Profusion) and all did not chart in the United States but charted in European countries.[citation needed]
Later that year, Madonna performed the song Hollywood with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott at the MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna kissed Spears and Aguilera during the performance, resulting in tabloid press frenzy. That fall, Madonna provided guest vocals on Spears's single Me Against the Music.
During the Christmas season of 2003, Madonna released Remixed & Revisited, a remix EP that included rock versions of songs from American Life, as well as Your Honesty, a left-over from 1994's Bedtime Stories album. The collection did not chart in the Billboard top 100.
In 2004, Madonna embarked on The Re-Invention World Tour, which featured fifty-six dates in the U.S., Canada, and Europe and became the highest-grossing tour of 2004, earning $125 million. She made a documentary about the tour named I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, which debuted on MTV and was directed by Jonas Akerlund. Also in 2004, Madonna was involved in a brief legal battle with Warner Music Group, with whom she co-owned record label Maverick. The legal dispute ended with Warner Music Group buying Madonna's shares in the record label. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her #36 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
In January 2005, Madonna performed a cover version of the John Lennon song Imagine on the televised U.S. aid concert Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope, which raised money for the tsunami victims in Asia.[citation needed]
Madonna in Hung Up video.Madonna's tenth studio album, the Grammy-winning Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) which sold more than 11 million copies, was built as a continuous mix of dance songs, with musical elements borrowed from the '70s, and current dance music. The album received positive reviews and was considered a return to form after the negative reception to American Life. It has produced four singles: Hung Up, became one of the most successful singles of all time [citation needed], reaching number one in a record breaking 45 countries - the song peaked at #7 in the U.S.. With Hung Up crossing over into the Top 10, Madonna had her 36th Top 10 hit and she is now tied with Elvis Presley for the most Top 10 singles by ANY artist in the U.S.. Madonna opened the 2006 Grammy Awards with Hung Up, alongside the nominated computer-generated band, Gorillaz. Sorry then became Madonna's twelfth number one in the UK, making her the female artist with the most Number One singles in the UK charts. Sorry peaked at #58 in the U.S.. The third single, Get Together, reached the UK Top 10 and became her thirty-sixth number one dance hit in the U.S. (the most for any artist in Billboard history),[citation needed] but did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The fourth and final single was Jump, another US Dance Chart #1 (this became her 37th #1 on that chart) and charted at number nine in the UK.
Madonna cosplaying Mello in Jump video.In mid-2006, Madonna signed on to become the worldwide face of H&M. Included in the deal was a specially designed track suit, created by Madonna. The next year M by Madonna, launched in the United States, and internationally. In its first week, the line took in $15 million.[citation needed] The company has ordered a second and third line for late 2007.
Madonna's Confessions Tour kicked off in late May 2006. The tour grossed a reported $260.1 million and was the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist in history, with a global audience of 1.2 million. The tour sparked controversy when she used religious symbols such as the crucifix and crown of thorns in her performance of Live to Tell. The tour ended its 60-date run on September 21, 2006, in Tokyo. A CD+DVD of The Confessions Tour - Live from London special was released on January 29, 2007 internationally and January 30, 2007 in the U.S.
In October 2006, Madonna flew to Malawi to help build an orphanage, which she also funded, as part of the Raising Malawi initiative. While there, she took custody of a baby boy, named David, with the intent of adopting him. The effort created controversy and ran into legal obstacles.
On May 16, 2007, a song was released by Madonna called Hey You, released in anticipation of Live Earth. Madonna performed 'Hey You' amongst other songs at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London on July 7, 2007. Madonna is currently directing her first film, Filth and Wisdom and has started production on her next album, which is expected to be released in early 2008. Madonna is also working on a documentary on the problems and difficulties faced by people in Malawi, called I Am Because We Are.
In September 2007 she was nominated for induction into the U.S. Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
On October 9, 2007, it was reported that Madonna plans not to extend her contract with Warner Brothers Records. It was later confirmed that she intends to sign a deal with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills based concert promoter.
On October 16, 2007, Madonna officially announces a $120 million, 10-year contract with Live Nation Inc. and will become the founding artist in its new Artist Nation division. The deal consists of all future music and music-related businesses including albums, concert tours, merchandising, fan club/web site, DVDs, music-related television and film projects, and associated sponsorship agreements. Madonna releases a statement saying she signed the new deal because of the changes in the music business: The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift. For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless. Under the terms of the deal, Madonna will receive a signing bonus of about $18 million and a roughly $17 million advance for each of three albums, and she is expected to do 4 concert tours within the 10-year period.
On October 18, 2007, Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg told Hollywood Insider that Madonna's forthcoming studio album could be released in early 2008 and a greatest hits package is slated for a release in late 2008 or early 2009.
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