New York - Media conglomerate Viacom announced on Wednesday that it has hired UBS Investment Bank to explore strategic alternatives for Famous Music, its music publishing business.

Founded in 1928, Famous Music now represents a catalog of 125,000 copyrights. Since 1992, the company has pursued a roster of mainstream contemporary artists, which now includes Eminem, Shakira and Busta Rhymes.

Viacom did not specifically say it was looking to sell Famous Music, but that is often the case when a company hires an investment back to "explore strategic alternatives."

Related Links:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070206/nytu174.html?.v=68

http://www.viacom.com

http://www.famousmusic.com