February 12, 2007

By by Todd Martens, L.A.

The White Stripes are close to inking a long-term, multi-million dollar deal with Warner Bros., sources have confirmed to Billboard.biz. The group was previously aligned with the now-defunct V2 via frontman Jack White's Third Man imprint, which also was home to his successful side band, the Raconteurs.

The Stripes' manager declined comment on the deal; the band's publicist did not respond to a request for comment.

The Detroit-reared rock duo has sold 4.5 million albums in the United States to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its last release, 2005's "Get Behind Me Satan," has shifted 850,000 and debuted at a career-best No. 3 on The Billboard 200.

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