WB isn't Metallica's label, they are their distributor in North Americ, and only on the last 3 records - a deal which ended a while ago.<p>Very very very very big difference, in that they don't own Metallica's music. Metallica music has been owned by their own 'label'/corp since the first album (which is why they went to court, directly).<p>Though the association they have creates a nice narrative for the story, so I can see why this writer jumped on it.
Maybe he is trying to buy a record label for Facebook, as that is pretty much the only thing FB are not able to get into fast - music. Buying Warner Music (via SP) would enable FB to rapidly sell music via FB like iTunes. Also putting the recent FB purchase of Israeli startup Snaptu in the same context, they might well be trying to create their own mobile OS - which will be FREE to mobile phone manufactures similar to Android. Massive advantage to FB if they do this is they have 550+m users that mobile operators would love to tap into with very litte marketing effort.
They mention that Warner Music is also Metallica's label, but in my opinion this would probably not factor into a business decision to purchase a record label. Warner is a huge label, and in many ways has not adapted to modern times. If Sean were to purchase Warner, I can't imagine him allowing the label to continue operating as it has. Maybe he would shape it in way which would be more appealing to how people wish to consume music. Who knows, maybe even music start ups will have a much easier time with legal problems and costs? That would be cool.
Whether or not WMG is Metallica's record label, if he does pull this off, that would be pretty Epic.<p>Come to think of it, why has someone else from Silicon Valley not done this ?<p>Why has Steve Jobs not bought a major record label ? I think the music business needs a good old fashioned changing of the guard and some techifying.<p>If Bill G. or Jobs or Zuck or anyone that has a ton of money bought one (or some) of those large labels, that could be pretty momentous.
This would be great for the music business and music start-ups. Im thinking music start-ups would be given better terms and or breathing room to create innovative services that in turn strengthens the music industries's bottom line.