FRENCH OWNED UNIVERSAL MUSIC POSTS $378 MILLION DOLLAR PROFIT

by Bob Hamilton on 09/01/2008, 06:44 PM

Tags: record business , riaa , universal , vivendi

 
While the RIAA cries lost profits from downloading music as they enlist the government to create a cabinet level "copyright czar" to protect their music, Vivendi's first half report decries the poverty line.  Vivendi announced that the first half revenue for the overall company was up 10.2% over last year to $16.43 billion. The Universal Music Group was up 17.7% to $378 million.  While comparing the profit picture with 2007 the numbers for Vivendi were down 15.8% to $2.65 billion...but that's taking into consideration huge projects in the first half last year.  French boss, Jean Bernard-Levy says by the end of the year they'll be over 2007 profits.