• Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman and CEO of Vivendi, the parent company of Universal Music Group, showed the same optimism that characterized the Goldman Sachs Communacopia speech by Warner Music Group chairmand and CEO, Edgar Bronfman, Jr. Levy said UMG is the only "healthy and stable" company in the music industry. He added that UMG has not yet decided whether it will it will make a permanent decision to sell music without DRM. The company is currently experimenting with DRM-free sales at some online stores. (Hollywood Reporter)

• WEA Corp, the distribution arm of Warner Music Group, inked a deal with Abandon Interactive Entertainment to market and distribute the video game "Freaky Creatures." The game -- and I'll quote here because this reads like stereo instructions -- is "one of the world's first player-customized, cross-platform, multi-player game universes for the tween demographic." (Press release)

• At the Popkomm festival in Germany, music industry execs discussed how the auto industry will become a valuable partner for the music industry as cars go online. "We will connect our cars with the Internet in the next three to four years," said a principal of a consulting group. "The iCar is not far away." (Billboard.biz)

• Music startup Slacker has inked deals with EMI, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. The well-funded company will eventually offer satellite radio and branded portable players. I tested the online radio a few times and, if this says anything about my level of interest, I have not returned since. (Digital Music News)

• Rapper Fat Joe's Terror Squad label has inked a deal with Caroline-distributed Imperial Entertainment. Terror Squad will soon release Fat Joe's eighth album, Elephant in the Room. Terror Squad and EMI-owned Caroline teamed up for his last album, Me Myself & I, which has sold 206,000 units since its release last November. (SoundSlam)

• A new survey from American Media Services finds that 63% of Americans listen to the radio every day, a figure that rises to 79% for adults between 25 and 34. Seventy two percent surveyed said they listen to as much or more radio than they did five years ago. Satellite subscribers held steady at 11%. "Many analysts seem to be enthralled with the technology of satellite radio, but the buying public isn't," said the AMS. (Radio Ink)

• In February, Universal Music Group will its Music Row offices in Nashville and heading downtown to a building adjacent to the Ryman Auditorium. The move is expected to save $200,000 a year. (Ashland City Times)