Virgin Records is remaining relaxed about speculations surrounding the cost of its deal with Janet Jackson. The reason, says Virgin Music Group World Wide chairman/CEO Ken Berry, is that the renewed partnership is about more than money. "Janet is a very intelligent and knowledgeable woman, and she's not going to put her career in the hands of just anyone. If she'd felt Virgin couldn't do the job, she'd have gone somewhere else," he says.
   
    Virgin's new deal with Jackson is described as a "long-term, worldwide pact"; it follows a previous agreement that covered just two albums, 1993's "janet.,"  which has sold 10 million units and "janet. Remixed."

    Says Berry, "When we signed her last time- which was shortly before Virgin was sold, though we didn't know at the time- it was quite an expensive deal, but we felt it was worth it because Janet was one of those artist that had everything it takes."

    Asked about the relationship between label and artist, he adds, "Everyone likes Janet. She is a really lovely person. She is talented and creative. There's nothing quite like working with a talented, creative, lovely person." Berry states that even though the new deal will be of significantly longer duration than the original, there will be no radical departures in Jackson's career development. "This is just a continuation," he says. (On a side note shortly after The Velvet Rope was released Janet left her new management South Paw Entertainment due to their lack of proper marketing)

    He adds, though, that the company relishes the prospect of that continuation. "Anytime you work with a superstar artist, it's motivational for everyone who works in the company."
he says, "Everytime you work with a talented, creative artist, like Janet, they teach you something new about the business.
   
   
  "It's a challenging thing," he adds. "Janet's records sell in every country in the world, so the tasks of our companies worldwide is to make her music fit within local culture. It is a process everybody really enjoys."
 
In a statement issued by Virgin, Jackson echoes a theme about which Berry feels strongly. She says, "Working with individuals who support and who are willing to maintain the integrity of that vision during the many phases in an album's life is extremely important to me. Virgin has supported me in this way."
  
Berry says that successful relationships are based on the record company staying true to an artist's vision through all stages of aggressive marketing.
  
Berry declines to discuss any of the finances involved in the Jackson deal. Reports have published figures ranging from $50 million to $80 million. Berry is uncommitted as to when there will be a new Jackson albums. "She will not make records that are a compromise," he says. "There can easily be two years between albums."
    
Janet's 4 album deal includes a Greatest hits Album as her final release although this Greatest Hits Package will include hit singles from the "janet." album as well.