Music: Viacom Inc. said it may seek...

Music: Viacom Inc. said it may seek someone to buy or merge with its Blockbuster Music business because the stores aren’t growing as fast as its other operations. Blockbuster Music’s profit margin has been hurt by cutthroat competition from music stores grappling for market share and inroads made by other retailers. Viacom, which owns Paramount Pictures and MTV, acquired the chain of music stores in its $7.65-billion purchase of Blockbuster Entertainment in September 1994. The 518 Blockbuster Music stores sell CDs, tapes and other recorded music; the larger side of the business, Blockbuster Video, rents and sells videotapes. Analysts said Viacom might have trouble finding a buyer or partner for Blockbuster Music because of industrywide over-capacity and slim profit margins. The disclosure about Blockbuster Music was made by Tom Dooley, Viacom deputy chairman, at a news conference in Paris organized by U.S. investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.