Back office consolidation is generally always a good thing, but does have a tendency to lead to even more bureaucratic red tape and overworked staffers. Still, this part actually might work to save a little bit of money here and there, but it's not going to save the business.

I wonder about the wisdom of pushing to develop more new artists, though. I guess the three months of due diligence made it clear that established cash-cow artists aren't so cash-cowy anymore -- plus they're spoiled by the old business model (Robbie Williams) and won't roll with the new punches. A crop of new artists will be less of a drain. Or something. At any rate, clearly we're returning to the spit 'em up and chew 'em out singles-not-albums strategy? OMG, it's 1960!

the rich girls are weeping