Universal Music Publishing Group News

The funk pioneer George Clinton has settled a lawsuit in which he accused the pop and hip hop group Black Eyed Peas of using part of one of his songs in remixes of its hit song "Shut Up" without permission.

Vivendi SA reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates on growth at the music division and as earnings held up at French wireless unit SFR amid intensifying competition.

A price war in the French mobile-phone market is weighing on companies' performance in the sector, as Vivendi SA warned that a "price reset" to stem subscriber losses will have a bigger impact in coming quarters.

Vivendi SA plans to reduce operating expenses at its SFR mobile-phone unit by as much as 450 million euros this year through firings, cutbacks in marketing spending and renegotiating contracts with call centers, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The National Music Publishers' Association today announced that Barry Coburn, Founder and Co-President of Ten Ten Music Group, and Zach Horowitz, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, have been appointed to the organization's Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Vivendi SA would stand to boost the lowest valuations of Chief Executive Officer Jean-Bernard Levy's seven-year tenure by breaking up businesses ranging from phone providers to video games and pay television.

France Telecom SA, the country's largest phone company, reported an 8.1 percent decline in first- quarter profit before some items as wireless discounter Iliad SA took market share.