July 23, 2008

By By Mitchell Peters, L.A.

Bravado, the global merchandising arm of Universal Music Group, has entered into an agreement to manufacture and distribute merch for Las Vegas-based rock act the Killers.

Financial terms and the length of the deal were not disclosed.

"Merchandise goes hand in hand with CD sales, especially with a band this popular," Bravado CEO Tom Bennett said in a statement. "The Killers are a perfect example of who the merchandising business was built for and we're thrilled to be creating innovative merchandise offerings that will help them further connect with their avid fan base."

Along with the Killers, Bravado handles merch for such artists as Coheed and Cambria, Slipknot, Nickelback, Alicia Keys, Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Depeche Mode and Ice Cube, among others. Bravado became a division of Universal last year when the music giant paid around $90 million to acquire the merchandiser's parent, Sanctuary Group.

In between festival and concert performances slated for summer and fall, the Killers are working on the follow-up album to 2006's "Sam's Town," which has sold 1.3 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

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