"Seeking Profits Beyond CD Sales"
The New York Times, May 29, 2008

Confirming rumors that have circulated since arts manager Jeffrey Vanderveen announced his departure from IMG Artists in March, Universal Classics and Jazz announced on Wednesday the formation of a new division, Universal Music Classical Artist Management and Productions, headed by Vanderveen. Some of the biggest stars in the operatic firmament, including Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca (both Vanderveen clients at IMG), have joined the new roster. But there is a catch: IMG, alleging a variety of serious improprieties, has filed suit against Universal and its principals in the New York State Supreme Court.

This is certainly a story that will bear watching. One thing definitely worth noting is that while early rumors suggested that the new division would be concerned primarily with producing pop-concert extravaganzas, the project held up as an example of what Universal is interesting in achieving is the new Deutsche Grammophon recording of La Bohème available now in Europe and due June 10 in the U.S. The project, recorded by DG during concerts arranged by Vanderveen at IMG, doubles as the soundtrack for a cinematic film of the opera that will be screened in Europe this summer (and presumably here at a later date). More such complete opera recordings are already in the planning stages.