Music Notes: Mariah Carey's Record Deal

April 11 -- Talk about sweet revenge. Mariah Carey split from her former husband's record label, then scored the priciest record deal in history.

The New York Daily News reports the "Butterfly" singer will be paid a whopping $23.5 million for each of five CDs she records for Virgin. She had been with Sony Records since her debut in 1990, and spent five years married to label boss Tommy Mottola.

The previous highest paid artists — Janet Jackson and R.E.M. — received $20 million per album.

Carey's first release for Virgin will be the soundtrack to her upcoming movie, All That Glitters, detailing the experiences of an aspiring singer.

Madonna Uncovered Between the Book Covers

It's tough to imagine what's left to be said about the overexposed pop singer Madonna, but an upcoming biography promises to disclose the unknown about the Material Mom.

The unauthorized text is from Andrew Morton, who previously hit the New York Times best-sellers list with bios on Monica Lewinsky and Princess Diana. He says the Madonna book explores her relationships, lifestyle and ambition and "discloses the unknown Madonna."

A half a million copies of the book are expected on store shelves in November.

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Puffy Fashions Honored

Dapper rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs is earning praises for his fashion line.

The singer, now known as P. Diddy, has been nominated for a top award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America for the second year in a row.

His successful Sean John clothing line is up for the Perry Ellis Menswear Award for New Talent.

Moreover

Rap rockers Limp Bizkit will spend the summer in the studio. On the group's Web site, limpbizkit.com, lead singer Fred Durst says the group will begin their next album in July. … James Taylor and his wife Caroline "Kim" Smedvig are new parents. Their test-tube twin boys arrived last week and have not yet been named. … Stevie Wonder and opera star Marilyn Horne will be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in June in Los Angeles.