WHO'S NEXT?

Word in pub circles is that yet another enormous catalog deal is about to go down, adding an additional set of iconic hit songs to the year's already long list of lucrative sales. Who's the author of those songs, and who takes the prize? Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, rumors are also bubbling about the possibility that at least one major music-acquisition fund may be up for sale, changing the landscape for future deals. Who are the players, and how big might that check be?