EMI Hopes For Game Of Halves

Although it may not be wise to pin its hopes on a few major albums like it did with Coldplay and Gorillaz in 2005, EMI’s release schedule between now and Christmas gives rise to the belief that the company will have a better second half of the year.

Its figures for the six months ending September 30th, the first it’s released since the European Union’s annulment of the 2004 Sony BMG merger cooled talks of EMI and Warner getting hitched, show a 3 percent decline in total revenues.

However, analysts including Citigroup are predicting that releases from the likes of Robbie Williams, Norah Jones, Joss Stone, Depeche Mode, and Tina Turner will result in EMI’s final year-on-year figures showing an annual growth of 7.5 percent.

EMI Music Publishing is also expected to have a better second-half with Sting, Kelly Clarkson, Fergie, Diddy, Scissor Sisters, Natasha Bedingfield, Kanye West, and Daddy Yankee all putting out new albums.

– John Gammon