Time Warner to merge with UK's EMI  
Time Warner, fresh from a history-making merger with America Online, announced its intention to merge yet again, this time with EMI Group, the UK-based music concern. AOL will benefit considerably from the deal as it gains access to EMI’s internet music offerings, vastly expanding the catalogue of downloadable music available to AOL customers. Time Warner already controls a significant portion of the global music market, ranking fourth in market share holdings. A merger with third-ranked EMI would leapfrog the new entity past number two Sony Music Group and leader Universal, owned by Seagrams Corp. The newly-christened Warner EMI Music’s net worth of $20 billion would also surpass Universal Music Group’s worth. The deal is not yet final, and a rival such as Bertelsmann’s BMG might still manage to outbid Time Warner. However, the proposed merger should go over nicely with both sides; Time Warner would be getting 50 percent control of EMI at the cost to itself of only $1 billion, while EMI shareholders will get paid $1.65 per share. The deal doesn’t sit so well with music lovers and struggling artists, who complain that consolidation in the music industry has created a hit-driven, single-hungry environment in which labels are unwilling to invest in real talent.

Big papers sue over Metro transit deal
Philadelphia newspapers are in a tizzy about plans to distribute Metro, a small-circulation daily tabloid, free at train stations and bus stops throughout the area. Such heavyweights as Gannett, Knight-Ridder and the New York Times have gone off to federal court to protest what they’re calling favoritism on the part of the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority. In exchange for allowing Metro to distribute within the system, Septa is receiving free advertising space as well as a portion of the revenue. "Septa, as a government agency, is clearly prevented by the First Amendment of the Constitution from entering the newspaper business," Pamela Browner of Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. told The Wall Street Journal. Metro, published by Sweden’s Modern Times Group AB, plans to distribute its 150,000 issues beginning today despite the hearings.

So where's randi Mandi anyway?
Mademoiselle sans tête. Tres horible! Mandi Norwood signed on as editor of the Conde Nast fashion/beauty book way back in September, but she continues to punch her card at British Cosmopolitan, leaving Mademoiselle headless. The magazine’s last editor, Elizabeth Crow, resigned at the end of last year to co-write a book. Maurie Perl, a spokeswoman from Conde Nast, declined to comment on reports that Hearst is refusing to let Norwood out of her contract at British Cosmo. Crow provided for her absence by planning out several months of issues before her departure, says Perl. An interim team, led by managing editor Faye Haun, will handle the details until Norwood’s arrival in March. Poaching Norwood apparently touched a raw nerve at Hearst; Conde Nast picked off another Cosmo editor a year prior when it stole Bonnie Fuller away from the American edition to head up Glamour. Under Norwood, the British version was known for unabashed salaciousness, verging on vulgarity, even by Cosmo standards. It remains to be seen to what extent Norwood will give Mademoiselle the same treatment.

Disney's Soapnet launches with little lather
Disney/ABC Cable Networks' new SoapNet cable channel featuring same-day replays of ABC daytime soap operas "Port Charles," "All My Children," "One Life To Live," and "General Hospital," launches today with 1 million subscribers. Disney/ABC president Anne Sweeney predicts the full-time network "devoted to soap operas and soap fans" should grow to 4 to 5 million subscribers by 2001. David Forsyth and Brooke Alexander will be hosts of the network's only original half-hour weekly entertainment news series called "SoapCenter." 

Toodles for '90210' and 'Party of Five'
Fox’s "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Party of Five" will not return to Fox’s line-up next season. This year marks "90210’s" tenth season and "PO5’s" sixth. The ending of "90210" is a bit of a surprise since two weeks ago Fox announced it would likely air as many as 12 new episodes this summer and return for an 11th season. It appears that Fox was unwilling to pay the continually increasing license fees on the Aaron Spelling-produced "90210," which near $2.2 million per episode. Original cast members from both shows were planning on leaving at the end of the seasons including "90210's" Brian Austin Green and possibly even Tori Spelling, as well as "PO5’s" Neve Campbell. Both "90210" and "PO5" have stumbled in the ratings since being separated this season. "90210" has averaged 8.4 million viewers this season, while "PO5," which moved to Tuesdays, has averaged 6.8 million viewers. With the departure of "90210" and "PO5", and the possibility that "The X-Files" also might end, Fox will surely be forced to fill a large number of holes in its primetime lineup this fall.