Universal Music is still owned by Vivendi, just as the games division is. The motion picture and television assets (such as Universal Studios) is now part of NBC Universal, whose majority shareholder is GE, with Vivendi in the minority. That's why there is a distinction. Warner Music is a separate entity from the rest of the Warner Bros. assets that are still owned by TimeWarner (but a minority of Warner Music stock is still owned by TimeWarner*). And Sony's music interests are now part of SonyBMG and separate from parent company Sony and Sony (Columbia/TriStar) Pictures.
*Typical of Warner Communications history. TimeWarner got rid of Warner Music because music industry sales were in the slumps at the time and there was widespread discussion of internet piracy going on. TimeWarner sold the majority stake of the division to Bronfman (sic) to take pressure off TimeWarner's stock with the intent to come back in at a later date and buy back the company if it is turned around and TimeWarner's stock appreciates in the meantime. Warner Communications did a similar scheme back in 1984 when it split up Atari Inc. and sold majority stakes off (home division 75% sold to the Tramiel family, arcade division 75% sold to Namco) to relieve pressure off Warner's stock at the time and to fend of Rupert Murdoch's takeover attempt at the time. It is an easy assumption that TimeWarner will try the same thing with AOL as soon as possible.
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Universal Music is still owned by Vivendi, just as the games division is. The motion picture and television assets (such as Universal Studios) is now part of NBC Universal, whose majority shareholder is GE, with Vivendi in the minority. That's why there is a distinction. Warner Music is a separate entity from the rest of the Warner Bros. assets that are still owned by TimeWarner (but a minority of Warner Music stock is still owned by TimeWarner*). And Sony's music interests are now part of SonyBMG and separate from parent company Sony and Sony (Columbia/TriStar) Pictures.
*Typical of Warner Communications history. TimeWarner got rid of Warner Music because music industry sales were in the slumps at the time and there was widespread discussion of internet piracy going on. TimeWarner sold the majority stake of the division to Bronfman (sic) to take pressure off TimeWarner's stock with the intent to come back in at a later date and buy back the company if it is turned around and TimeWarner's stock appreciates in the meantime. Warner Communications did a similar scheme back in 1984 when it split up Atari Inc. and sold majority stakes off (home division 75% sold to the Tramiel family, arcade division 75% sold to Namco) to relieve pressure off Warner's stock at the time and to fend of Rupert Murdoch's takeover attempt at the time. It is an easy assumption that TimeWarner will try the same thing with AOL as soon as possible.