In a
fascinating development, the LA Times is reporting that Apple is in talks to buy Universal Music from floundering French giant Vivendi International for between US$5 billion and US$6 billion. The LA Times is the same publication that broke the story that Apple was working on a music sharing network for Mac users that had already been signed off on by 4 of the Big 5 music labels, including Universal Music. Now the Times is reporting that Vivendi execs were so enchanted by Apple CEO Steve Jobs' vision for the future, that they asked him to buy a minority stake in Universal. That, in turn, has led to talks of Apple buying the division outright
Check It Out: LA Times: Apple In Talks To Buy Universal Music For Up To US$6 Billion