Art and music are also staking out a place in the film industry and becoming increasingly present at Sundance.

FORBES: Insider's Guide To The Sundance Film Festival

Aside from buying into cable companies and funding a small, unsuccessful foray into educational software, Allen has focused his investments on things Microsoft doesn't invest in--like sports teams, music museums and the film industry.

FORBES: Founders Face Off

In the latest attack on those involved in Mumbai's film industry , India's rags-to-riches music baron, 41-year-old Gulshan Kumar, was shot dead outside a temple, prompting the prime minister, Inder Gujral, to praise his contribution to the film-music business.

ECONOMIST: Exporting trouble