The little major that could, EMI, is in talks to buy the Warner Music Group from AOL Time Warner:
- A deal with EMI could bring in $3 billion to $4 billion for the media and entertainment giant, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources.
Tricia Primrose, a spokeswoman for AOL, said the company had no comment on the report.
....A combination of Warner and EMI would form a company with about 22 percent of the U.S. market for recent releases. Vivendi Universal has about 33 percent of the market share. [CBS MarketWatch]
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
There's unlimited supply
And there is no reason why
I tell you it was all a frame
They only did it 'cos of fame
Who?
E.M.I. E.M.I. E.M.I.
Too many people had the suss
Too many people support us
Un unlimited amount
Too many outlets in and out
Who?
2 - Keith Elshaw
Well, at least EMI is a pure music company.
Two years ago poor Eddy Bronfman wailed that his Universal Music (bought by dumping 22% of E.I. Dupont (!)) wasn't big enough to compete. 'Bye 'bye 7 billion dollars to his family after he gave it all away to the lovely and talented Vivendi.
We all know about the lovely and talented AOL Time Warner model. Couldn't happen to nicer guys.
Sony's divisions have each other tied-up in litigation (against each other!). All the music companies are suing BMG for buying Napster.
They all deserve their headaches for lack of conviction and original thought.
So, go EMI ... why not? They can't afford it, but at least it's an understandable gamble. It would be nice to have music people (to some extent) doing well in the music business.
3 - Eric Olsen
You've been following the biz well, Keith, nice roundup.
Jim, it was absolutely required that you print the lyrics to that song - would have been pretty disappointed had you let me down.
4 - Jim Carruthers
And of course, "Never Mind The Bollocks" was released on Warners in North America. You can keep your Nostradamus, I'll stick with our man John Lydon.