Barry Willis

The music industry is again under legislative assault on both coasts.

Mergers and acquisitions are among the oldest tactics for commercial ventures that want to increase their power and presence. They are also increasingly popular in the non-commercial sector, according to a March 14 Associated Press report.

The real-time spectrum analyzer (RTA) has long been one of the audio professional's most useful tools. Until about a decade ago, good RTAs consisted of separate signal generators, calibrated microphones, and bulky oscilloscopes. Then some manufacturers began offering handheld RTAs with inboard microphones and LED or LCD screens.

Wiz stores sold: Cablevision Systems has made good on its promise to exit the consumer electronics retail business. On March 6, the Bethpage, NY–based cable giant announced the sale of its 17 remaining Nobody Beats The Wiz stores to GBO Electronics Acquisition LLC in a stock transaction, effective immediately. GBO will assume The Wiz's assets and debt, according to a Cablevision statement.

Universal Music Group (UMG) may go on the auction block to help bail out debt-ridden Vivendi Universal. On March 6, Vivendi announced a record loss of $25.4 billion (€23.3 billion) for the 2002 fiscal year. The biggest loss in French corporate history followed a staggering $14.9 billion (€13.6 billion) loss for 2001.

The music industry's reaction to a prolonged sales slump has been a desperate effort to create legislative and technological deterrents to force consumers to stop downloading MP3s and copying CDs.

Only a month after being scrutinized by the Senate Commerce Committee, Clear Channel Communications may have to explain itself to the Senate Judiciary Committee.