"Universal Music Group, one of the world's largest music companies, on Tuesday said it planned to back Sony Corp.'s next generation DVDs, firing another salvo in the next generation media format wars. Blu-ray, developed by Sony, is challenging rival HD DVD to be the main technology used in new DVDs that delivers sharper pictures and more features. HD DVD was developed by Toshiba. The backing by Universal Music, whose talent roster includes Elton John, Mariah Carey and U2, is of little surprise. The company is listed as a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association on its Web site. The battle between Sony and Toshiba draws comparisons to the videotape format wars of the 1970s and 1980s between Sony's Betamax and JVC and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s VHS, which curtailed consumer adoption."It feels that the split is getting ever deeper in the two camps and the various compaies that are signing up to the competing technologies. I guess it will ultimately suck for us to have to have both drives because there will be enough major companies on both sides.