Talking of deals with Warner Music, there was renewed speculation yesterday that the Murder Inc record label, known as The Inc these days of course, will now enter into a partnership with the Warner posse.
The Lorenzo brothers' record label has historically been affiliated to the Universal Music Group, but when that relationship came up for renewal - with Inc supporter Lyor Cohen no longer at the major, and with the money laundering allegations made against the Lorenzos still pending - neither side seem particularly interested in continuing the partnership.
Irv Lorenzo was reportedly in discussions with Cohen about going into business with his new employer, Warner Music, earlier this year, but the ongoing federal investigations into the Inc's financial affairs would have made announcing any joint venture tricky, especially as Warner was going through the motions of a flotation. However, with the Lorenzos cleared of all charges earlier this week, a Warner deal is now possible.
New York Post journalist Tim Arango says that Chris Lorenzo spoke to him last week, before the jury announced its verdict, about the Inc's relationship with Universal, confirming: "We're free finally. We have a lot of options, and we'll figure it out after the new year". But Arango reckons the Lorenzo brothers are closer to reaching a decision about the future than that quote suggests - and that a new deal with their old friend Cohen over at Warner is pretty damn likely.