There are now a few reports online about a keynote Q&A with Vivendi president at MIDEM conference in France. (Vivendi is the parent company of market-leading Universal Music Group.)

A report by Billboard.biz highlighted Levy's comments on the CD format. Wrote Lars Brandle, "Levy ... defied widespread gloomy predictions for the CD when he told delegates the physical format would continue to play an important role in the recorded music industry for years to come, alongside digital formats."

The Canadian Press adds this quote on the CD: "It's not the migration of one physical format to another, I think it's a transition into very diversified business models of which CDs will remain a part. I don't believe at this stage for the next few years we will see a complete showdown (elimination) of CDs."

A post at paidContent has quotes on both the CD and Vivendi's stance on DRM. "We are still testing (DRM-free models)," Levy said, "but our policy is still that we are strongly attached to DRM, especially for advertising-based models and subscription-based models."

Reuters' headline is "Vivendi Chief Says Music Industry Gloom is Overdone" and included this quote: "I think altogether today there is an exaggeration in the industry ... Of course it is not doing that well, but look at us, we have flat revenues, a good two digit margins and it's not as dark as what many people describe."