News from the Digital Music Forum in New York:

• DRM and interoperability isses are called out at the Digital Music Forum. (Digital Music News)

• Execs call out publishers for high royalty rates they claim are problemic for digital music businesses. Attorney and author Steve Gordon colorfully disagrees, puts blame on recording rights holders. (The Register)

• Larry Kenswil, Universal Music Group's digital division, bashes those he calls "the utopians," the "capitalism is evil crowd, the folks who want stuff for free -- and you'll find them on Slashdot." (The Register)

And news elsewhere:

• A report says Vivendi Universal would like to buy the publishing arms of Warner Music or EMI in the event the two companies merge. (The Times Online)

• Wayne Russo of Mashboxx has (another) bold prediction: "Steve Jobs and Apple are going to be toast." (Fortune)

• Kelefa Sanneh on a pop hit by Cascada and dance music label Robbins Entertainment. (NY Times)

• Van Morrisson rips today's music industry, says "everything is about commercialism these days, not music." (Contactmusic)