Spotify closes EMI

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO: In other tech action, Spotify has closed EMI for the U.S., following its deal with Sony Music, but a pair of major challenges remain before Daniel Ek’s crew can launch the popular sub service stateside. UMG’s Lucian Grainge didn’t get a rep as a fearsome negotiator for making nice, and WMG’s Edgar Bronfman has a predilection for turning down invitations that his three counterparts accept, and vice versa—witness Vevo and MTV.com, respectively. According to Bronfman, services like Spotify are “meaningful” but not “significant,” and we’re still trying to get our head around that one. And then, of course, there's Steve Jobs... (2/18a)