Well Damn!: Justin Timberlake Forced To Come Back To Music Sooner Than Expected Due To $20 Million Advance From Live Nation

Justin Timberlake's return to the music business is looking like a huge success. His new album The 20/20 Experience sold 968,000 copies in its first week out, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Tickets for his upcoming stadium tour with Jay-Z, dubbedLegends of the Summer, is outselling Jay and Kanye West's Watch the Throne tour by a 5-to-1 margin according to StubHub.


The question nobody seemed to asking until now is what compelled the superstar singer/actor to suddenly make the decision to record a new album and hit the road for a massive tour after nearly seven years away from music.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the clock was ticking on a sizable advance given to JT by Live Nation. In 2008 Live Nation and Justin began doing business. The concert industry giant first purchased Signatures, a company that licences Timberlake's merchandise. Next LN agreed to make Justin's tequila brand, 901, the official tequila of Live Nation venues.

In exchange JT committed to a tour. He was given a $20 million advance. $5 million of that he wouldn't have to return as long as he completed the tour.