EU to Probe Universal-BMG Music Deal

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EU regulators on Friday opened an antitrust probe of Universal Music Group’s plans to buy BMG Music Publishing for about $2.1 billion, saying the deal could damage “the already concentrated music publishing market,” the Associated Press reports.


Officials in Brussels announced they would issue a final decision on whether to block or allow the deal by April 27.


BMG – owned by German media company Bertelsmann AG – has the rights to more than a million songs by recording artists such as Nelly, Maroon 5 and Coldplay, as well as classic hits by the Beach Boys, Barry Manilow and other entertainers.

Paris-based Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, which has significant operations in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest music company. Its publishing arm controls the rights to songs by artists such as 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige and Chamillionaire.



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