Vivendi’s Plan To Sell Half Of Universal May Become Real This Year

Universal had 40 percent of U.S. music business last year, including the top four most streamed artists of 2018. But who will buy Universal – Spotify? Liberty Media? This sounds wild, but streaming is still growing: “Consensus in the music industry and the investment community is there is a lot more growth left for music streaming as markets around the world open up to subscription.” – The Wall Street Journal

A Banksy Tribute Is Stolen In Paris

The tribute to victims of the 2015 Bataclan massacre, painted on an emergency door in the concert hall, was cut out and removed. “The theft, which occurred overnight on Friday, involved ‘a group of hooded individuals armed with angle grinders,’ AFP news agency reports, citing a source close to the investigation, said.” – BBC

Was ‘Rent’ The Last Broadway Musical To Go Live On TV?

Even before star Brennin Hunt broke his ankle 10 minutes before the end of dress rehearsal, Fox was rethinking its live Broadway musical plans. Why? Money, of course: “The television network might make its own jukebox musical based on the songs of a popular artist for its next live musical telecast. Developing a show from scratch, as opposed to mounting a Broadway show like Grease or Rent, allows Fox to ‘create our own IP and have some ownership,'” said the Fox Entertainment president. – Forbes