In The News

• Warner Music International (WMI) president Paul-Rene Albertini is assuming full responsibility for the division, following the Dec. 5 announcement that WMI chairman/CEO Stephen Shrimpton has retired from the position he has held for 16 years.



• A U.S. District Court judge in Atlanta approved Dec. 4 the $8.5 million settlement negotiated in October regarding a lawsuit involving recording artists' health and pension benefits from the funds of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) (Billboard, Nov. 2). The suit was brought in 1993 by soul legend Sam Moore, who charged the AFTRA Funds with fiduciary irresponsibility for failing to keep accurate records of benefits. The judge's approval paves the way for future claims.



• Vivendi Universal (VU) chairman/CEO Jean-René Fourtou says VU plans to put most of its entertainment assets into a separate company that would be at least partially publicly held. VU will still consider other possibilities for the entertainment businesses.



• Roxio, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based maker of CD-burning software, has completed its acquisition of Napster Inc.'s assets for $5.3 million in cash and stock. The deal gives Roxio all of Napster's intellectual property, including its name, trademarks, domain name, and technology. Roxio says it is not assuming any of Napster's pending liabilities or litigation.



• A federal jury in Pittsburgh awarded SESAC more than $1.2 million in a copyright-infringement case the performing-rights organization brought against WPNT Inc. The company, which owns AC WLTJ and classic rock WRRK Pittsburgh, admitted to playing 31 SESAC-controlled songs without a license.