> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# “Wire” Producers To Bring Record Industry To HBO.  Who Should Play The Roles?
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/wire-producers-to-bring-record-industry-to-hbo-who-should-play-the-roles/
- Published: 2009-11-10T09:00:29.000Z
- Updated: 2009-11-10T09:00:29.000Z
- Description: The producers of the hit HBO series 'The Wire'' have purchased the rights to Rolling Stone journalist Steve Knopper's "Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/11/wire-producers-to-bring-record-industry-to-
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Major Labels, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:03

The producers of the hit HBO series 'The Wire'' have purchased the rights to Rolling Stone journalist Steve Knopper's "Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age".

The book chronicles 30 years of the record industry; in particular the free fall in sales over the last 5\. "It's a rise and fall story of a once, very incredibly healthy, great, rich, throwing its weight and money around kind of industry, that is no longer quite as grand," the writer [told the BBC](http://www.spinner.com/search/?q=The%20Wire&ref=hypebot.com):

But who should play key music industry figures in the new show? Here are my nominations:

[![image from tmottgogo.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66dff1c970b-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66dff1c970b-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

[![image from tvtropes.org](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f50b5970c-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f50b5970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com)
  
  
Warner Music Group executive **Lyor Cohen** should be portrayed by **rapper Eminem**. In fact, they could reverse roles and play each other. Runner up: **50 Cent**. It's always seemed to me that Lyor wished he were black.  
  
  
[![image from news.gotgame.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f7f67970c-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f7f67970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

[![image from upload.wikimedia.org](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e3da8970b-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e3da8970b-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

WMG CEO **Edgar Bronfman Jr.** seems like a perfect fit for The Partidge Family's **Danny Boneduce**. After all, at some points in their careers each has had to pretend that they knew something about music and neither has played their more recent roles very well.  
  
  
[![image from nymag.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f5438970c-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f5438970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

[![image from www.theage.com.au](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e047e970b-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e047e970b-pi?ref=hypebot.com)
  
  
Universal Music CEO **Doug Morris**, whose misjudgment of how to handle the original Napster plays a central role in the book, is a perfect fit for Soprano's star **James Grandolfini**.   
  
  
[![image from newsroom.cisco.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e1837970b-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e1837970b-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

[![image from cm1.theinsider.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f6977970c-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f6977970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

Is it just me or is there a striking resemblance between long time record industry player and current Interscope head **Jimmy Iovine** and **Billy Bob Thorton**?  
  
  
[![image from www.hypebot.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f5f99970c-100wi "image from www.hypebot.com")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20128756f5f99970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

[![image from www.virginmedia.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e0ea2970b-100wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20120a66e0ea2970b-pi?ref=hypebot.com)

Unfortunately EMI CEO **Elio Leoni-Sceti** is too new at his job to be in the book because his boyish looks could easily be captured by **Neil Patrick Harris**. And isn't there something poetic about Doogie Howser running one of the world's largest record labels?  
  
**What actors do you think should portray the music industry's top players?**