Executive Deal at EMI Falls Through

A new management setup at British conglomerate EMI Group failed to materialize Friday, leaving the relationship unclear between Chairman Sir Colin Southgate and Chief Executive James Fifield, whose contract runs out next year. Although the London-based Southgate and the New York-based Fifield have long quarreled behind the scenes, the two reportedly had buried the hatchet and worked out a plan for Fifield to extend his deal for four years and report directly to EMI’s board, while Southgate took an emeritus role. Fifield flew to London with the understanding that he would sign his new deal Friday, sources said. However, no such announcement was made at the meeting and Fifield was told that he would continue to report to Southgate if he signed the new deal, sources said. Fifield rejected the offer and returned to New York. EMI releases music by such acts as Garth Brooks, the Spice Girls and the Rolling Stones.