I just posted this on my blog, but I thought it deserves a wider audience.
This could be HUGE for us advocates of Mp3/downloadable music:
Yahoo! News - Apple in Talks to Buy Universal Music
Apple Computer Inc. is in ongoing talks with Vivendi Universal to buy the Universal Music Group from the French media and entertainment company, a source close to the situation said on Friday.
Apple, the maker of such wonderful devices as the iPod and integrated computer/music stuff owning the largest music company COULD just force the industry into the new millenium.
Besides, Apple is MUCH more customer-focused. With the largest company going in a more customer/technology focused, could the others be far behind??
Article comments
1 - Sean Hackbarth
I'm wary of companies going in directions that just don't fit. Hardware and software (music)? I'll admit Sony and Microsoft (X-Box) seem to be doing it, but they might just allow enough autonomy for it to work. Or is this a signal that Apple is moving away from the personal computer and more into a consumer products space?
2 - Phillip Winn
From what I've heard, this is already being talked down, and probably isn't going to happen. Something about the current most-interested buyer for Vivendi as a whole backing out if this part of the company doesn't come with it.
But anyway, your point is still interesting. I'm wary of "convergence" myself. Quite a skeptic, even. Yet Apple has long been relatively consumer-product oriented, at least in relation to most other computer companies. And what is the iPod but a consumer product, and a musical one at that?
Apple running a record company seems extremely bizarre, though, so your point is a good one. Maybe Steve Jobs is interested for himself? How much cash on hand does Pixar have these days? 8^)