EMI's Jumpy Stock: Squawks Across the Pond

EMI's bumpy history approaches yet another tipping point: after five years of rejecting suitors, getting hit on by Warners, flirting with Warners, urging a merger with Warners, watching Sony bed down with BMG and Jeff Jones assume Neil Aspinall's Apple mysteriously vacated throne, the first major to drop DRM hopes to announce premium remastered Beatle digital downloads... soon. Or not. Coolfer points to Aussie's The Age, while the Financial Times seems to have the best wag beating bushes. Rumors swirling, stock jumping, pigs flying, it's enough to make you wonder: why isn't there an "official" Sgt. Pepper 40th anniversary commemoration? Is something BIGGER in the pipeline? Did Julian cash in his publishing "Just Because"?

Who digs headlines like this more, the board or the bidders:

Private equity firms stalking EMI could sell the company's recorded music arm to rival Warner as soon as a deal is struck...

And who's going to lay down in front of capitalist tanks for the hallowed studios in St. John's Wood (mp3)? We're just saying.

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