Edgar on Vevo, Spotify

EDGAR’S DOUBLE DISS: Warner Music chief Edgar Bronfman Jr. spread the zingers around during the company’s Q1 earnings call on Tuesday, and the press continues to analyze his dismissive statements regarding Spotify and Vevo. Bronfman was unequivocal about Spotify, which is hoping to launch in the U.S. soon, stating that "free streaming services are clearly not net positive for the industry, and as far as Warner Music's concerned will not be licensed. So this sort of ‘get all the music you want for free and then we can with a few bells and whistles move you to a premium price strategy’ is not the kind of approach to business that we will be supporting in the future." Moving to his next target, Bronfman noted that "In building our 360-degree deals and in managing our artist websites, we think there's a great deal of commerce to be done and value to create for consumers on a website-by-website, artist-by-artist approach, which Vevo frankly doesn't allow us to do to the extent that we think we'd like to do that." (2/11a)