IB on the future shape of EMI

WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE: The latest buzz, says our industry insider I.B. Bad in his latest column, posting tomorrow morning, is that UMG will organize EMI as a pair of freestanding label groups based in Los Angeles and London after the merger is finalized. If so, will the ranking execs come from EMI or UMG, or will Universal look outside to fill these key posts? Meanwhile, industry observers are startled by the degree of confidence the Universal and EMI brass are exuding about the EC approving the merger, but it appears that many high-ranking players who are not part of the deal are betting that it won’t happen. (4/19a)