French Universal Music to open branch in Casablanca

Universal Music, a subsidiary of French group Vivendi Universal, will open a branch in Casablanca, as of next summer, announced Pascal Negre, UM's CEO, in an interview published by Moroccan journal Menara.

"We are about to set up an administrative board with our Moroccan partners and will open a branch next summer in Casablanca," said Negre, adding that the branch will have to work on international and French catalogues and promote Moroccan artists both in Morocco, France and elsewhere.

UM's Casablanca branch, he went on, will also make people discover Morocco's traditional music.

He dismissed allegations that VU is planning to withdraw from Moroccan market, stressing that VU's decision to open a branch in Casablanca came in recognition of the Kingdom's "rich history and melting pot culture."

"There is an important potential of talents in Morocco that need to be introduced both to Morocco and the rest of the world," he added.

According to Pascal Negre, the Moroccan government wishes to develop and promote Moroccan culture, as evidenced by its endeavours to enforce anti-piracy laws.

UM's CEO further disclosed his company's intention to use agencies of Maroc Telecom where VU's stakes amount to 35 percent, as selling outlets for CDs.

"We will thus have both a new and different distribution network that will beef up sales in those agencies and help in the fight against piracy," he said.