State investigators have subpoenaed several major music companies as part of a preliminary inquiry into whether their digital music services have engaged in any illegal price-fixing activity.
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s office is seeking information on wholesale prices the music labels charge for digital music files that can be downloaded. It could take months to launch a full investigation, if one is warranted.
Warner Music Group Corp. said in a regulatory filing Friday that the subpoena it received is part of “an industrywide investigation.” The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Vivendi Universal SA’s Universal Music Group also received subpoenas.
