New Boss Not The Same As The Old Boss

This Robert can't seem to keep EMI out of his blog. Now it seems that recently appointed CEO, Elio Leoni-Sceti, is history, and a T.V. man, Charles Allen, is the new boss.


Looks like trying to sell Abbey Road Studios and being sued by Pink Floyd for selling their music is worse than increasing sales, or are we witnessing the dawn of a new era? Is this the big clue that we're finally going to see a merger with the patient Mr.Edgar Bronfman's WMG? It seems Old Charlie has a history as Mr. Merger.

2 Billion, A Lot To Lose

Well, well Mr. Guy Hands, how does it feel to lose 2 billion dollars? And you still have to come up with 120 million by June to keep the doors open. This Robert wonders, is anyone going to throw any more money down that dry hole? Especially when the head of EMI's recorded division warns you "that morale among the record company's staff and artists (and those artists' managers) was at an all time low."

Looks like that patient Edgar Bronfman is getting closer to his dream of buying EMI's record division. Plus, if this takes much longer, Mr. Bronfman might not have to pay much. This Robert remembers when Mr. Bronfman was going to pay big for the same thing. Instead Terra Firma bought it and saved WMG a billion.

Guy Hands Smart With Trash, Dumb With Music

Mr. Guy Hands, I see you're busking. Trying to attract some fools into buying part of your music business folly.

I hear you're having the record company write a business plan, and then you're going to pitch it to investors. Let this Robert write the business plan. It's the same for every record company ever been: "Hits, Hits. and more Hits!" That's the only way that the storied EMI won't fall into the hands of patient Edgar Bronfman and his WMG.

Guy, being smart with trash doesn't make you a music man.

Warner's Pulls Out!

I wonder, who's right, Mr. Edgar Brofman, boss of WMG or YouTube's CEO Chad Hurley?

It seems that the two can't come to terms about $. Those dreams of a digital payoff by each guy just aren't happening. YouTube isn't making enough money to be profitable. WMG isn't making the $ that Edgar thinks his music is worth. So I heard Edgar has pulled all the WMG music related videos off YouTube.

Mr. Brofman, you sure play hardball. So the question is whether you need YouTube as a merchandising tool, as much as YouTube needs your content to be a popular Internet destination.

Stay tuned, lawsuit among the greedy is next.

My Turkish Bluesman

Ahmet, my Turkish bluesman, your memorial concert was the best. The Zeppelin was flying high. It was special!

The world should see this beautiful event dedicated to your memory. But concert footage from attendees is being yanked down from YouTube. There were plenty of people who couldn't make it to the show, who would like to share a little of the tribute to you. But it looks like the soul of your concert is being twisted. At first it looked like Warners Music Group was continuing their heavy handed approach to the Internet, but that ain't true.

It seems the greedy band is planning selling a DVD of the concert, and they don't want the clips to soften sales. Was this the real plan all along? Using your treasured memory to market a DVD? Well I guess once you're gone you're fair game for this bunch.