04/07/2010
上周EMI匆匆結束了出售其北美地區版權給環球或索尼的的談判。這似乎是因為EMI並沒有權利將旗下一些大牌藝人的版權賣出去。
Roger Friedman報導說披頭士，酷玩，平克佛洛德，諾拉鐘斯以及其他一些EMI藝人在他們的合同中有禁止EMI將其錄音版權轉讓給其他公司的條款。
Roger Friedman斷言沒有了這一眾大牌藝人版權的合同就是毫無價值的合同，儘管這個說法有些誇張，但EMI確實沒有權利將旗下大部分大牌藝人的版權轉讓給其他公司。除了Roger Friedman提到的那幾位，
SoundScan上周發佈的100張最佳銷量目錄中的僅有的三位元EMI藝人Bob Seger, "Now Classic Rock" 以及沙灘男孩也屬於EMI無權轉讓的範圍。
EMI沒有了其唱片庫最吸引人的大部分，想要轉讓出去看來是有點玄的。
EMI與其競爭對手的談判失敗
04/03/2010 EMI的母公司Terra Firma由於需要還清貸款試圖出售EMI北美地區的版權，據路透社的報導，EMI與華納及Sony兩家唱片公司的談判最終以失敗告終。
路透社源引華納及Sony公司的消息稱兩家公司在與EMI的談判在最後都已失敗告終，其中一方更是用“無法接受”來形容EMI給出的合作條款。
Beatles, Pink Floyd & Coldplay Contracts May Be Reason EMI Can't Make A Deal
2010/4/6
The contracts of some of EMI's best selling acts could be the reason that the label group has yet to make a catalog licensing deal that would provide much needed cash. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Coldplay and Norah Jones were named by Showbix411 as having contracts which prevent EMI from licensing their recording to another label.
If true, EMI's extensive catalog would be significantly devalued. "Sources say that when the UMG folks realized this, they pulled out at the last minute," according to the blog. "EMI then went to Sony, almost made a deal there until that gang asked the essential questions." Other media sources suggest that Sony may still be willing to continue negotiations.
EMI Update: Sony Talking, Predators Circling
2010/4/5
Exactly what's going on at EMI varies by one's sources, but clearly the company is in a messy struggle for its survival. As of last Wednesday, EMI has just 90 days to raise $183 million to make an overdue loan payment and present a viable plan fir its future to creditor Citi.
Now that talks to license EMI's catalog with Universal have broken off, Sony is said to be back at the table. Formal negotiations between Sony's finance director Kevin Kelleher and EMI's executive chairman Charles Allen could begin in May, if advisers can agree on an outline agreement over the next few weeks.
Terra Firma Postures, WMG Readies A Bid -
Failing that, current owner Terra Firma is putting on a brave face and hinting that they won't let the label group be taken over by Citi or some group of investment bottom feeders. But Citi may see things differently and could declare EMI too risky to leave alone even if a payment is made. Should that happen, Warner Music Group and private equity giant KKR are in talks to make a joint bid.
As this drama plays out behind closed doors, EMI employees and artists sit in limbo, frustrated that even as their efforts at a turnaround seem to be working, their company's crushing debt may prove too heavy a load to carry.
EMI Staffers Update Resumes As Rumors Swirl
2010/3/31
(Updated) With today's deadline from lender CitiGroup looming and rumors of talks that could shutter its U.S. division swirling, many employees at EMI are spending as much time checking the internet for a scraps of news and updating their resumes as they are doing their jobs.
Those inside the company paint picture of very low morale and a high level of frustration. "I feel passionately about the work I do, and it would appear that our efforts are literally paying off," said one staffer. "But I can't ignore that this will mean nothing to the bank, let alone whoever buys what's left after Citi gets its way". "Just when we're showing positive results with Lady Antebellum, Gorillaz and the like, they are pulling the rug out from under us," said another. "We're being punished for past excesses in both the record and the financial industries," an EMI veteran told Hypebot. "It's like being in the middle of a perfect storm. What we do in our tiny portion of the ship doesn't matter at all."
But one staffer at EMI Music Publishing did try to paint a different picture of that division's morale. "We’re publisher of the year in the UK and US, hot with hits everywhere, meeting all our bank requirements, and delivering profits". But even he had to admit that his colleagues "we’re affected by the turmoil... everybody would prefer not to be reading stories about their difficulties every day".
EMI In Last Minute Talks With Universal
2010/3/31
Last minute talks with Universal that would have the world's largest label group license EMI's vast catalog for as much as $300 million over the next 5 years have resumed in the last 24 hours according to a variety of sources. Completion of the deal could mean the shut down of virtually all of EMI's U.S. operations and hundreds of layoffs.
Wednesday is the deadline for EMI to submit numbers and a plan to lender CitiGroup showing solvency and that it has a plan to move forward. If the music company fails the test, Citi could take over in an attempt to protect its $2.5 billion position.
It is less clear if Sony is still in the bidding game and spokespersons from all parties involved refused to comment.
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