Its producer, Polygram, an Anglo-Dutch music group, is trying to establish itself as a major studio.

ECONOMIST: Hollywood's fading charms

The uncertainty over PolyGram's future has caused much consternation at the commission, which has come to see itself as the guardian of the continent's culture.

ECONOMIST: The PolyGram test

Edgar Jr. gave up that task but held on to PolyGram.

FORBES: Edgar's encore

These days, along with Jules Haimovitz, founder of Showtime and Viacom, and David Hope, former COO of Polygram TV, Beer is at it again with StarCast Auditions.

FORBES: StarCast: How Technology Can Help Find The Next Meryl Streep

In fact, Seagram boss Edgar Bronfman Jr. has already done Vivendi the favor of quietly wrapping up the goodwill accounting for his 1998 purchase of music giant PolyGram N.

FORBES: Goodwill For All

Alain Levy of PolyGram could be blunt and emotional.

ECONOMIST: The genuine article

That has set the pattern for the industry: small new label (Chris Blackwell's Island records) discovers new talent (Bob Marley, Roxy Music, U2), turns it into stardust, becomes big label, sells out to the suits (PolyGram).

ECONOMIST: The record industry takes fright