The Jonas Brothers might end up with some sort of Madonna complex.
The fraternal trio has signed a two-year, multimillion-dollar deal with touring behemoth Live Nation that will have the "S.O.S." purveyors on the road to international stardom by Jan. 31, when they kick off their first world tour at TCC Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona.
"This band creates pandemonium wherever they go. They sell out dates instantly and always leave their loyal fans wanting more," said Bruce Kapp, senior VP of touring for Live Nation, which is touting the contract as the first of its kind for an up-and-coming act.
The Jonas Brothers' Look Me in the Eyes tour, so named after their latest single, will touch down in more than 140 theaters and arenas around the globe.
The New Jersey-bred siblings—Joe, 18; Kevin, 20; and Nick, 15—spent the fall opening for Miley Cyrus on the Hannah Montana star's wildly successful Best of Both Worlds tour, and have been tapped to star in their own Disney Channel sitcom, in which they'll play pop stars such as themselves who moonlight as secret agents.
Their self-titled 2007 album, their first for Hollywood Records, debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 in August. The young men are looking to record a follow-up effort in time for a September release. Guitar maker Gibson has fashioned a mobile studio-cum-tour bus for the Jonases so they can be productive while on tour.
The Jonas Brothers most recently performed on Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve Monday and are scheduled to visit The Ellen DeGeneres Show Jan. 21. Tickets for their tour go on sale Jan. 12.
"The level of commitment and passion that everyone at Live Nation has shown for our band has been inspiring," the band said in a joint statement. "Together we are going to bring our show to millions of our fans around the world. We couldn't be more excited about our future together."
Live Nation recently treated another, albeit much more established, artist to an unprecedented level of commitment and passion, as well. Madonna inked a reported 10-year, $120 million partnership with the barely three-year-old company's new music division, Artist Nation, that will encompass touring, recording, films and TV, merchandise and name-brand marketing and promotion.
The arrangement will give the Material Girl not only much more material—at least $17.5 million up front and 90 percent of touring revenue—but also greater control over every aspect of her business, including how her music is distributed.