Oasis extend deal at Sony BMG

NEW YORK (Billboard) - British rock band Oasis has renewed its contract with Sony BMG, signing a worldwide marketing and distribution pact that will cover its next three albums.

The first fruit of the pact will be Oasis' seventh, as-yet-untitled album, which is expected before year's end. Oasis' last studio release was 2005's "Don't Believe the Truth," which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

Oasis' first three albums were released by now-defunct UK indie label Creation Records. Afterward, the band launched its own Big Brother imprint and signed a distribution deal with Sony's Epic label for the albums "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" (2000),"Heathen Chemistry" (2002) and "Don't Believe the Truth."

Oasis will return to the road this summer for a short North American tour, beginning August 26 in Seattle. Three dates in Mexico are also on tap for November.

Reuters/Billboard