LONDON - Pop star Robbie Williams said he has signed a new deal with record label EMI that makes him “rich beyond my wildest dreams.” Williams would not comment on a report in Britain’s Sun tabloid that the multialbum contract was worth $125 million. The 28-year-old performer said Wednesday that: “My mom said it would be really uncouth of me to talk about money – but I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams.” EMI spokeswoman Cathy Cremer said the reported figure was “complete and total speculation.” Asked by reporters what he planned to do with the cash, Williams replied, “I’m going to count it all.” Williams, at the offices of his management company, was joined by Tony Wadsworth, head of EMI in Britain.

“We have heard the new album Escapology and it is undoubtedly his best album yet,” Wadsworth said.

Williams, who first found fame with boy band Take That, has sold nearly 10 million albums in Britain and has had a series of No.1 hits, including “Millennium,” “She’s the One” and “Rock DJ.” He has won 13 Brit Awards, including nine as a solo artist, but has yet to make much impact in the United States.

A previous EMI big-money deal proved costly. EMI signed Mariah Carey to its Virgin label in 2001 in a much-hyped deal reported to be worth as much as US$100 million. The company dropped her in January, with a US$28-million payout, after her first disc for the label Glitter suffered embarrassing sales. AP