Mariah stays with Virgin

Carey's movie Glitter was slammed by the critics

Pop superstar Mariah Carey remains in contract with Virgin and has not received a multi-million pound payout to break her record deal, the label has insisted.

Earlier reports suggested the record company was giving Carey £35m to buy itself out of an expensive contract after just one album.

Glitter sold a fraction of her previous releases

The singer signed with the company in April 2001 for an estimated £70m for five albums.

But, in a statement, EMI Virgin has denied the reports.

Speculation

It read: "In light of recent press comment that EMI has paid or agreed to pay Mariah Carey a lump sum to release her from her recording contract, EMI wishes to make clear that it has made no such payment or agreement."

Speculation that EMI Virgin wanted to sever ties with the superstar, who has recently recovered from illness, surfaced late last year.

Sales of Glitter, her first record for the label, were said to be disappointing.

It sold two million copies worldwide, compared with 20 million for her 1993 record Music Box.

The record label said it would not be making any further comment.

Major film

Carey had a troubled 2001 after suffering an emotional breakdown which led her to check into a clinic to recover.

Her first major film, also called Glitter, was postponed until she was well enough to promote it.

But bad reviews ensured it did not recoup its money at the box office.

Virgin signed Carey in April after she quit the Sony label owned by her ex-husband Tommy Mottola.